# Intro to Lightpost Below is a short demo of Lightpost. This does not cover all the features available, but will help give an idea of how Lightpost works. {% embed url="" %} # Welcome to Lightpost After your new account is created, you'll need to ensure some setup steps to your account are completed. ### Billing You can add payment information here:\ Billing happens on the first of every month. If your account is created in the middle of a month, a pro-rated invoice will be generated for this month. ### Important Links It's recommended to bookmark these: * **Admin**: [admin.lightpost.app](https://admin.lightpost.app/) * **Web App** (for members): [app.lightpost.app](https://app.lightpost.app/) * **Mobile Apps**: [lightpost.app/mobile](http://lightpost.app/mobile) Mobile App: Once you set your password, you can also download and login to the mobile app. ### **Special Notes** You will notice things are **very empty** and may not seem very useful yet! Until member data is added and some of the features are put to use, this is very normal. 🙂 Be sure to check out the [**User Management Overview**](/core-concepts/users/user-management-overview) video for help getting started, as well as a [**General Overview**](/) video. If you'd like, we do offer to import member data for you for a fee. Have patience, and reach out to with any questions or to schedule some time to get started together. If there are ever any add-on features you'd like to activate, just let us know! # How to Launch Lightpost Lightpost offers a few options for helping expedite getting your members aware and logged in. ### Data / Platform Setup We highly recommend starting your Lightpost account by taking the time and effort to fill in data and start utilizing the "core features" in the list below. This enables members to immediately see and benefit from all that Lightpost can offer. Note that this does not even cover the extensive add-on features available! It's recommended to not start **too** big, as you acclimate to a new platform. ### Core Features 1. **Directory:** Add all members basic info (name, birthdate), and at least emails, to Lightpost. The more data you start out with the better! It's very helpful to spend some time here. If you'd like help, we can do a [directory data import](/faqs/data-import) for a fee. 2. **Involvement Areas:** Fill this out with lots of selections for members to login and select how they'd like to be involved. 3. **Prayer List:** Add prayers to the Prayer List feature for members to be up-to-date on the latest news updates. 4. **Calendar Events:** Add some of the latest things coming up on the schedule that people should be reminded of and see. 5. **Group Posts:** Enable this for some smaller groups. This is a great way to get communication flowing among the congregation. 6. **Notable Days:** Adding birthday, anniversary and baptism birthday information to user profiles makes this section in the mobile app very exciting and useful. Members have a reason to check in daily, to see who they could message some encouragement to on their special day. 7. **File Sharing:** Add the latest bulletin or some Bible class material - making it easy to see how accessible things can be. 8. **Sermons:** If you plan to utilize the sermons/lessons feature, be sure to add at least a few things here so members know this is a spot to access the latest content. ### Member Announcement Once you have those things going, and you're ready to get members logged in, you should: 1. **First** **announce** to the congregation that **Lightpost is available**! 1. This is a **crucial step!** If members are not expecting the "welcome email" to create a password for their account, there's a high chance that some will mark the email as spam. 2. Marking a welcome email as spam will prevent future emails from being delivered and will require a support ticket to remedy. 2. Send "**Welcome Emails**" to everyone with an email address in Lightpost here: \ 3. Help less tech savvy users get logged in and going. Check out the [alternative login methods](/core-concepts/users/login-methods) for those who may not have an email. 1. Experience tells us that even those who have trouble with technology find Lightpost incredibly easy and helpful once they get logged in. ❤️ # Users {% embed url="" %} # User Management Overview {% embed url="" %} # Login Methods Lightpost offers 3 different methods of logging in for members: email, username and phone number. ### Email The recommended method of login for members is an email address. Once an email address is added to a users' account in the Admin, the user can utilize the "Forgot Password" process to reset their password and login. The "Reset Password" process is available as a link on both the mobile and web apps. ### Phone Number A user can also use their phone number in place of an email address on the login screen. 1. Add their phone number on their user account, just like any other phone number. 1. Do not attempt to set their username as a phone number. 2. Set a password on the users' behalf, and **securely** communicate that password to the user for login. 1. It is recommended that you communicate the password verbally, and do **not** write down, email or text a user's password to them. 2. Recommend that they can change their password after they have logged in, in the "My Account" section. ### Username A user can also use a custom username in place of an email address on the login screen. 1. Set the username and password on the users' behalf by editing the user profile in the Admin 2. **Securely** communicate that username and password to the user for login. 1. It is recommended that you communicate the password verbally, and do **not** write down, email or text a user's password to them. 2. Recommend that they can change their password after they have logged in, in the "My Account" section. # Account Membership Account membership terminology can be confusing based on other systems use of this language. We'll try to clear that up here. ## Definition of a "member" > A "**member**" in Lightpost, is **any man, woman or child**, under the oversight of the elders at your congregation, that belong in the church directory. This is not to be confused with being a "member of the Lord's body", which is identified by the baptism status on each individual user. ## Permissions When someone is a member of your congregation in Lightpost, they have access to login to Lightpost and access your congregations' account; as long as they have an email address on file for their user account. *(Or have setup* [*alternate login options*](/core-concepts/users/login-methods)*)* ## How to make someone a member A member is "marked" as a member by being added to a **Role** that "**indicates membership**". This flag on a Role can be set under the "General Settings" tab when editing a Role, and selecting the appropriate checkbox. Here's an example:
{% hint style="info" %} These default Roles were setup for you when your account was created. {% endhint %} > **NOTE:** This method **used** to allow Groups to indicate membership, but it is now **only a Role** that determines membership access. ## Recommendations It is highly recommended to follow some best practices for this special flag on Roles. * Only make **one** Role "indicate membership" (usually the "Member" role). * Only make **one** Group "indicate visitors" (usually the "Visitors" group). * There is **no need** to create a "Visitor role". # Family Units Family units in Lightpost are a key part of how information is displayed throughout the app, especially in regards to the Directory. ## Showing in the Directory In order for a user to appear in the church directory, they must meet the following criteria: * Belong to a group or role that [indicates membership](/core-concepts/users/account-membership). * Must be one of: * **Be** the **head of household**. * **Belong to** a user that is head of household. ## Head of Household The head of household role and checkbox are special - this is what creates a family unit. Once someone is marked as the head of household, other users can "belong to" this user, which makes them a part of that family unit. If someone is **not the head** of a household, and does **not belong to** a family unit, they are "orphaned" and will not show up in reports that center around family units (such as the Directory). ## Widows In the case of widows, you will want to modify their family role to be the "head of household". This will make them be a family unit and show up in the Directory. ## Other Situations In the case of a wife who attends the congregation, and a husband who does not, you may want to opt to make the wife the "head of household", and make the husband have the family role of "spouse". This will more closely identify with what members expect in terms of contact with church family. However, how you handle this is up to your congregation. # Family Emails ### ✉️ Family E-mail Addresses A family email address is an email address added to a user account, that is then marked specifically as a "shared" family email. An email address marked as a family address will then be shown when viewing any family member in the Admin App, as well as the Member/Mobile App. Family email addresses have the following **restrictions**: * You ***cannot*** use a family email to login to Lightpost. * You ***cannot*** use a family email to receive group email messages. * You ***cannot*** use a family email to receive other email notifications. * You ***cannot*** use a family email to set or reset a password for a Lightpost user. #### Family E-mail Alternatives: For families that **only** have one email address that is shared among family members, there are still some options for individuals to login their own Lightpost account. 1. **Phone Number Login:** You can use the user's phone number to login. * **NOTE:** An Admin currently must set the initial password for a user to login with a phone number. You cannot yet reset your password using a phone number. 2. **New E-mail:** Ask a user to create their own email account. * Though sometimes seemingly a difficult transition, this can be the most straight-forward and advantageous option, especially for being privacy conscious. 3. **E-mail Variation (NOT RECOMMENDED):** Use (+) or (**.**) to create a variation of an email address. (see note below) * Many email providers allow you to use a (+) or (**.**) in such a manner that emails will go to the same address. * i.e. `johnsmith@example.com` and `john.smith@example.com` would be different emails in Lightpost, but both work for sending emails to the same account. * ***WARNING:*** Using this method can enable sensitive information to be delivered to the wrong person. * i.e. If an elder and his wife share an email, an elder may receive messages from Lightpost that are for elders only, but his wife would receive a copy. * This method is *not recommended* for any user that could need access to or receive sensitive information. # Church Offices A "church office" (sometimes called a "church role" in congregations) are titles such as "Elder", "Deacon", "Minister", "Evangelist", etc. ### Customizable You can create, reorder and change church offices in the [Account Settings](https://admin.lightpost.app/account/settings/church-offices) section. The order of the offices listed in the Admin will determine the order that they show in the mobile app. You cannot change the order of people listings in each office (they are alphabetical) currently. ### Leadership Listing Church offices are what determines who shows up in the Leadership section of Lightpost (and a Lightpost Website, if you have the website feature enabled with the option to show your church leadership on the website. The leadership section is **not** determined by roles or groups that happen to have the same name as a church office. For example, a group called "Deacons" is not what decides who shows up in the "Deacons" section of the Leadership listing. ### Assigning a Church Office To assign someone to a church office, visit their profile in the Admin, and scroll down to the "Church Office Information" section, and click the "Add" button.

An example of a user having the church office of "Deacon" with a subtitle of "Technology / Library"

#### USAGE NOTES * A user can only belong to one type of office at a time. * For example: you cannot assign two "Deacon" offices to a user, but you can assign a "Preacher" and an "Elder" office. * A "subtitle" is a great way to describe the specific role of someone holding an office. # Groups Groups are a special and import part of Lightpost for organization and communication. Groups in Lightpost are centered around two primary functions: * **Grouping People** * The ability to filter reports to specific groups. * The ability to filter the People section in the Admin. * **Communicating with People** * Group Posts * Emailing * Texting (SMS) * Voice Calling Read more about the communication methods in the sub-sections. {% content-ref url="/pages/uLDR2eeb4Wo3YhhP7I24" %} [Group Posts](/core-concepts/groups/group-posts) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/rpMVYSPPbA2DbvOHUkmz" %} [E-mailing](/core-concepts/groups/e-mailing) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/h1t5FDxgXrD0Aj3e65PO" %} [Texting (SMS)](/core-concepts/groups/sms) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/W7TMNjX15Gs4PiT6KERR" %} [Voice Calls](/core-concepts/groups/voice-calls) {% endcontent-ref %} # Group Posts Group Posts is a super-low cost communication platform built right into Lightpost. With Group Posts, there's no need to require everyone to create and maintain a Facebook, GroupMe or WhatsApp account. The app that everyone is already logged into for their directory, prayer list, calendars and more now also has the ability to facilitate communication. Some special features of Group Posts: * ✅ Allow groups to be **joinable** or **private**. * ✅ Enable or disable **posting** and **commenting**. * ✅ Upload **photos** and **documents** for sharing. * ✅ Choose to receive **mobile notifications** for different kinds of activity.
## Enabling Group Posts To enable Group Posts for a specific group, [navigate to the group](https://admin.lightpost.app/groups) as an admin and go to the "Group Posts" tab.
## Group Post Admins Group Post Admins are people specifically designated to help moderate posts and comments. A Group Post Admin can edit or delete any post or comment. ## Joinable / Private When activating Group Posts on a group, you can allow this group to be visible only to group members, or to your entire congregation as a group they can choose to join, by changing the visibility setting in the "Settings" tab for a group. A **private group** can only be seen by members of the group when Group Posts is enabled. A **joinable group** will show for everyone in the congregation, when Group Posts are enabled, with an option to "Join" if they are not already a member of the group.
## Push Notifications Members have the option in the settings for a group to enable or disable various kinds of push notifications for new posts and comments.
# Task Boards Give your groups a visual way to organize and track work. Each board is a Kanban-style layout with columns and cards that you can drag between columns as work progresses. ### Overview Task Boards are organized around four building blocks: * **Boards** - A board belongs to a group and acts as a workspace for a project or area of responsibility (e.g., "VBS Planning" or "Building Maintenance"). * **Lists** - Columns on a board that represent stages or categories (e.g., "To Do", "In Progress", "Done"). You can create as many lists as you need. * **Tasks** - Individual cards on a list. Each task has a title and can include a description, due date, assignees, labels, checklists, and comments. * **Labels** - Colored tags you create at the board level and apply to tasks for quick visual categorization. ### Prerequisites Task Boards live inside groups. To see and use them, two things must be true: 1. **Group Posts must be enabled** for your account. This is an account-level feature that an administrator enables in account settings. 2. **Task Boards must be enabled** for the specific group. An admin turns this on from the group's Task Boards settings page in the admin panel. Once both are enabled, group members will see a **Task Boards** link in the member app navigation. ### Getting Started #### 1. Enable Task Boards for a Group An administrator enables Task Boards on a per-group basis: 1. Go to **Admin > Groups** and select a group. 2. Click **Task Boards** in the group sidebar. 3. Check **Enable Task Boards** and save. Disabling this setting hides Task Boards from the group but does not delete any existing boards or tasks. #### 2. Create a Board 1. In the member app, navigate to your group and click **Task Boards**. 2. Click **New Board**. 3. Enter a name and optional description, then click **Create Board**. The board opens with an empty Kanban view. #### 3. Add Lists Lists are the columns on your board. Common setups include "To Do / In Progress / Done" or any workflow that fits your project. 1. On the board, click **Add another list** on the right side. 2. Type a name and click **Add List**. 3. Repeat to add as many lists as you need. 4. Drag list headers left or right to reorder them. You can rename a list at any time using the menu on its header. You can also archive a list to hide it without deleting its tasks. #### 4. Create Tasks 1. At the bottom of any list, click **Add a task**. 2. Type a title and press **Add Task**. 3. The new task appears as a card in the list. 4. Click the card to open its detail view and add more information. ### Working with Tasks Click any task card to open its full detail view. From here you can manage everything about the task. #### Title and Description Click the title or description area to edit them inline. The description supports longer notes about what needs to be done. #### Assignees Assignees are the people responsible for a task. * Click **Join** to assign yourself, or click the **+** button next to Assignees to add other group members. * Assigned members appear as avatars on the task card in the board view. * You can remove yourself by clicking **Assigned** (which toggles back to unassigned). #### Due Date Set a due date to track deadlines: * Click **Set due date** in the sidebar and pick a date from the calendar. * Overdue tasks are highlighted in red on the board. * Tasks due today are highlighted in orange. * Click the **X** next to a date to clear it. #### Labels Labels are colored tags for categorizing tasks (e.g., "Urgent", "Waiting", "Design"). 1. Click the **+** next to Labels in the sidebar. 2. Select an existing label to toggle it on or off, or click **Create new label** to make one. 3. Choose a name and color, then click **Create**. Labels are shared across all tasks on the same board. They appear as colored badges on the task card in the board view. #### Checklists Checklists let you break a task into smaller steps and track completion progress. 1. Click **Checklist** in the task toolbar to add a new checklist. 2. Give the checklist a name (e.g., "Setup Steps"). 3. Click **Add an item** to add individual items. 4. Check items off as they are completed. A progress bar shows the percentage done. 5. Drag items to reorder them within a checklist. A task can have multiple checklists. A checklist icon appears on the task card when checklists are present. #### Comments Leave comments on a task to discuss progress, ask questions, or share updates. 1. Click the **Write a comment** area at the bottom of the task detail view. 2. Type your comment and click **Comment**. 3. Comments appear in a timeline along with activity entries. 4. You can delete your own comments. A comment count appears on the task card in the board view. #### Activity Every change to a task is logged automatically -- title changes, members added or removed, labels applied, list moves, and more. Click **Show details** in the Comments and Activity section to see the full history alongside comments. #### Archiving and Deleting * **Archive** - Hides the task from the board without deleting it. Use this for completed work you want to keep for reference. * **Delete** - Permanently removes the task. This cannot be undone. Both options are available from the overflow menu on the task detail view. ### Moving Tasks Drag task cards between lists to move them through your workflow. For example, drag a task from "To Do" to "In Progress" when work begins, then to "Done" when complete. You can also drag tasks up and down within a list to reorder them. ### Filtering The board view includes filters to help you focus: * **Assigned to me** - Shows only tasks where you are an assignee. * **Watching** - Shows only tasks you are watching. Click the **Filters** button at the top of the board to toggle these. An active filter count badge appears when filters are applied. Click the **X** button to clear all filters. ### Watching Tasks Watching a task lets you follow its activity without being assigned to it. Click **Watch** on a task to start watching, or **Watching** to stop. ### Board Settings Click **Settings** at the top of a board to access board-level options: * **Board Name** - Rename the board. * **Description** - Update the board description. * **Archive Board** - Hide the board from the group. Archived boards appear in a separate section on the group's Task Boards page and can be restored at any time. * **Delete Board** - Permanently delete the board and all its lists, tasks, and data. This cannot be undone. ### Viewing All Your Boards The **Task Boards** page in the member app navigation shows all boards across all of your groups in one place, organized by group. This gives you a quick overview without having to navigate into each group individually. ### Board Managers Boards and lists can optionally be restricted to specific managers. When manager restrictions are set, only designated users can make structural changes like renaming lists, archiving, or managing board settings. All group members can still create and edit tasks. If no managers are specified, any group member can manage the board. ### Mobile App Task Boards are fully accessible from the Lightpost mobile app. You can browse boards, create and edit tasks, manage checklists, add comments, and drag tasks between lists. # Group Lock Lightpost offers the ability to disallow adding new members, without explicit approval and alerting, to help ensure group posts and task boards remain private. A **Group Lock** lets you prevent anyone from adding members to a group. Once a group is locked, no admin, web app, or mobile app user can add new members until a group member approves an unlock request via email. This is useful for sensitive groups where membership changes should require deliberate, accountable action — like elder or deacon groups, finance teams, or background-checked volunteer lists. ### How It Works 1. You lock a group from its settings page in the admin. 2. All group members receive an email notifying them the group has been locked. 3. While locked, "Add Members" and "Copy Members" are completely disabled everywhere — admin panel, member app, and mobile app. 4. To unlock, you submit an unlock request. 1. Every group member receives an email notification of this request, with an approval link. 5. Any one member can click the link to approve and unlock the group. 1. An unlock approved email will be sent to all group members, if approved. 6. Once unlocked, member management works normally again. ### Locking a Group #### Requirements * You must have the **Groups: Manage** role permission. * The group must be **private**. Joinable (public) groups cannot be locked, because members can add themselves, which would bypass the lock. * Make the group private first if needed. #### Steps 1. Go to the group's **Settings** page. 2. Scroll down to the **Lock Group** section. 3. Check the **Lock Group** checkbox. 4. A confirmation dialog will appear warning that no one will be able to add members until a group member approves an unlock request via email, and that all members will be notified. 5. Click **Lock Group** to confirm. 6. Click **Save Changes** to apply. Once saved, all group members will receive an email informing them the group is now locked. #### What Gets Blocked When a group is locked, these actions are blocked across the entire platform: * Adding members from the admin group members page * Copying members from another group * Adding a user to the group from the admin user edit page * Adding members from the member web app * Adding members from the mobile app API Members can still be **removed** from a locked group. \ Other group features (posts, files, task boards, messaging) continue to work normally. #### What Else Is Restricted * A locked group **cannot be made joinable**. You must unlock it first. * The lock checkbox on the settings page becomes **disabled and read-only** once locked — you cannot directly uncheck it. ### Unlocking a Group Admins cannot directly unlock a group. \ The unlock process requires email approval from a current group member. #### Requesting an Unlock You can request an unlock from two places: **From the Admin -> Group -> Settings page:** 1. On a locked group's settings page, you'll see the lock checkbox is checked and disabled. 2. Below it, click **Request Unlock**. 3. A confirmation dialog explains that an email will be sent to every group member asking for approval. 4. Click **Send Unlock Request** to confirm. **From the Admin -> Group -> Members page:** 1. On a locked group's members page, an amber banner shows at the top: "This group is locked. Members cannot be added or copied." 2. Click the **Request Unlock** button on the right side of the banner. 3. Confirm in the dialog that appears. #### What Happens Next * Every group member receives an email titled "Group Unlock Request: \[Group Name]". * The email explains who requested the unlock and what it means for the group. * It includes an **Approve Unlock Request** button. * Any single member can click the button to approve the unlock. * Once a member approves, the group is immediately unlocked and all members receive a confirmation email. #### Unlock Link Expiration Unlock request links **expire after 3 days**. If no member approves within that window: * The settings page and members page will show a **"Request expired"** badge. * You can submit a new unlock request at any time after expiration. #### What Members See When They Click the Link
ScenarioWhat They See
Approval successful"Group Unlocked" — the group is now open for new members
Group was already unlocked"Already Unlocked" — no action needed
Link is invalid or expired"Invalid or Expired Link" — ask the admin to send a new request
They're no longer a group member"Unable to Approve" — another member must approve instead
### Status Indicators The group settings page and members page show the current lock status: | State | What You See | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Unlocked | Lock checkbox is available (if group is private) | | Locked, no pending request | Lock checkbox is checked and disabled. "Request Unlock" button is visible. | | Locked, request pending | Lock checkbox is checked and disabled. Shows "Unlock pending since \[date]". | | Locked, request expired | Lock checkbox is checked and disabled. Shows "Request expired" badge and "Request Unlock" button. | | Joinable group | Lock checkbox is disabled with note: "Group must be private to lock." | ### Frequently Asked Questions **Can I lock a joinable group?** No. The group must be private first. This is because joinable groups allow members to add themselves, which would bypass the lock. **Can I directly uncheck the lock?** No. A locked group can only be unlocked through the email approval process. This is by design — it ensures accountability. **What if no group members have email addresses?** The unlock request emails are sent best-effort. If no members have emails, you would need to add a member with an email address to the group (members can still be removed, but not added while locked), or contact a system administrator for assistance. **What if I request an unlock and then want to cancel it?** There is no explicit cancel action. The link will expire after 3 days on its own. If a member approves before then, the group will be unlocked. **Can I re-lock a group after unlocking it?** Yes. You can lock and unlock a group as many times as needed. Each lock clears any previous pending unlock state. **Does locking affect group posts, files, or task boards?** No. Locking only prevents member additions. All other group features continue to work normally for existing members. **Who can approve an unlock request?** Any current member of the group. They do not need to be an admin or have any special permissions — just an active member of the group at the time they click the link. **What happens if a member leaves the group and then tries to approve?** They will see an "Unable to Approve" message. Another current member must approve instead. # E-mailing Lightpost allows your congregation to email groups for easy communication. ## How to send an email 1. First, enable e-mail messaging in the Group "Messaging" tab. 2. Next, add users to the **Authorized Senders** list on the group. 1. Authorized Senders are people who are allowed to send an e-mail to this group. 3. View the **Overview** tab of the group to see the **special** "**group email address**" that is generated for this group. (See screenshot below as an example) 4. **Send an e-mail** to this special e-mail address, just like you normally would send any e-mail, from any e-mail address that belongs to an Authorized Sender. 1. The e-mail will be sent to the entire group!
> The intent to sending e-mails this way is that there is no need to login to Lightpost to e-mail a group. It's as simple as just sending an e-mail to get communication out to a whole group. {% hint style="info" %} You can add this special e-mail address to your address book in your client for quick and easy access to e-mail the group. {% endhint %} *** ## How to view email history 1. In the Admin, find the group you wish to message, and click on the group. 2. Go to the **"Message History"** section. 3. Click on any past message to view details about who received the emails and any errors or failures. ## How are emails counted? * Lightpost counts an email as every email sent to an individual in a group. * If you sent an email to a group of 100 people with e-mails, that counts as 100 email messages. # Email Costs Why do you charge for emails? Shouldn't emailing be free? We agree that emails are very ubiquitous and easy for individuals to use. Anyone can sign-up for a free email address and starting sending and receiving emails with a provider of their choice! However, for sending 10s of thousands of emails per month for a platform like Lightpost, there are a number of factors to consider. ### Factors to Consider There are a number of things that a large email provider has to consider to make sure that emails arrive in your inbox as expected. Large end-user email service providers like Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook and others will quickly start sending your mass emails to spam, or worse, reject your emails that you're trying to send to your Lightpost groups. These factors include things such as: * Spam complaints (almost always accidental!) * Invalid email addresses (bounces) * Unsubscribe and resubscribe requests * Email domain reputation - to keep messages out of the junk folder of your users ### Email Provider Industry These factors have become an **exponentially increasing** concern for email providers over the last few years. Both for emails and SMS proviers. This has resulted in a **large increase** **in costs**, as well as many additional **verification** and **validation** hoops to jump through with email providers. As a point of proof: recently other church apps have stopped offering email as a method of communication altogether due to the complexities of dealing with email correctly. ### Email Provider Costs Just to give an example: [Postmark](https://postmarkapp.com) is an exceptional email provider, who is very strict about how many spam complaints you're allowed to have before you're kicked off the platform. Their email service starts at [$1.80 per 1,000](https://postmarkapp.com/support/article/1282-changes-to-postmark-s-pricing-in-2023) additional emails sent. This is currently **50% higher** than what Lightpost charges. ### Future Costs Lightpost is continually evaluating service providers and seeking options to lower costs for the Lord's church. We're working hard to avoid having to increase costs in the future, even though [service providers are increasing their costs](https://postmarkapp.com/support/article/1282-changes-to-postmark-s-pricing-in-2023). # Texting (SMS) Lightpost allows your congregation to text groups for quick communication. The texting tool, utilizing a dedicated toll-free number, is meant for one-way communication to mobile numbers stored in the ### What is a text message? * Text messages are a way to send SMS messages to people in a group that have a mobile phone on record. * SMS messages are different than *mobile notification*s, which users can receive for various things (worship assignments, group posts, etc) and require the member be logged into the Lightpost mobile application to receive them. * SMS messages do have an extra cost associated with them due to the requirement of using a third party service to send SMS messages. ### Special Notes About SMS * SMS messages can contain up to 160 characters from the [GSM-7 character set](/core-concepts/groups/sms/text-encoding). * SMS messages **cannot** contain images. * SMS messages will show up as a different sender on some devices. * Depending on the carrier and network, the sender number shows up as: * "`+1 (123) 555-1234`" for an **SMS** * "`1235551234`" for an MMS * This can appear on a device as two different senders. This is normal and expected due to carrier and network patterns. ### How are text messages counted? * Lightpost counts a text message as every 160 characters sent to each users' unique phone number. * Lightpost automatically filters out duplicate numbers and duplicate recipients. * If multiple people have the same phone number, only one message will be sent. * If a user has multiple mobile phone numbers, a message will only be sent to their primary number. ### First message confirmation When a text message is sent to a user from Lightpost for the first time, Lightpost sends a total of **3 text messages** to inform the user about why they're receiving a text message from this number. These three messages will include information such as: * The first message let's the user know what congregation text messages from this phone number are coming from. * The second message informs the user how to opt-out of and opt-in to future messages. * The third message is the first message you are sending to the group. These messages only happen one time for each users' phone number, regardless of what group the SMS comes from. ### How to send an SMS message #### **STEP 1** * Be sure the "**Enable messaging by SMS**" option is selected in the "**Messaging**" tab for the group.
The SMS option in the "Messaging" tab for a group.
#### **STEP 2** 1. Add yourself as an "**Authorized Sender**" in the tab option on the left. 1. Only people who are added to the authorized senders list can send an SMS message. This includes Account Admins. #### STEP 3 1. In the Admin, find the group you wish to message, and click on the group. 2. Go to the **"Send SMS"** section. 3. Enter the message you wish to send, and click "Send". 4. A cost estimate is provided for you.
### How to view SMS history 1. In the Admin, find the group you wish to message, and click on the group. 2. Go to the **"Message History"** section. 3. Click on any past message to view details about who received the text messages and any errors or failures. # SMS and Text Encoding SMS messages use a special and limited character set. SMS messages use a **character set** called **GSM-7 encoding** by default, which supports **160 characters** per message. SMS message length can be **severely restricted** when using **special characters** that are outside this character set. Any character outside the predefined GSM-7 character set (such as certain symbols, emojis, or special punctuation), switches the message to use UTF-16 (UCS-2) encoding, which reduces the character limit to 70 characters per message. #### Avoid using special characters Restricting character usage to a **regular apostrophe**, a dash instead of a long dash, or three periods instead of an ellipsis is a way to work around this limited character set. If you’re **copying/pasting** your message from another program like **Word**, they will often times carry over these special characters, for example. #### iPhone issues with special characters **iPhones** use a **special character** by default for the **apostrophe** (for example in auto-correct). When typing and it auto-replaces it, you can delete it, then press the "123" button to see special characters: tap and hold on the apostrophe and you will see other options, including one that looks more like a straight line for an apostrophe. This is the "regular" apostrophe. # Texting (MMS) Lightpost also allows your congregation to text groups for quick communication via MMS. ### What is an MMS message? * MMS messages are similar to [SMS](/core-concepts/groups/sms), but allow for much longer messages and images. * MMS messages are different than *mobile notification*s, which users can receive for various things (worship assignments, group posts, etc) and require the member be logged into the Lightpost mobile application to receive them. * MMS messages do have an extra cost associated with them due to the requirement of using a third party service to send MMS messages. ### Special Notes About MMS * MMS messages can contain up to 1600 characters. * MMS messages **must** contain one image for our service provider and carriers to properly send it as an MMS message, and not multiple, more expensive SMS messages. * If no image is provide, a **default image** will be generated for you that shows the user the **name of your congregation** and the **name of the group** that the message is being sent to. * MMS messages will show up as a different message on some devices. * Depending on the carrier and network, the sender number shows up as: * "`1235551234`" for an **MMS** * "`+1 (123) 555-1234`" for an SMS * This can appear on a device as two different senders. This is normal and expected due to carrier and network patterns. ### How are MMS messages counted? * Lightpost counts an MMS message as every 1600 characters and optional image sent to each users' unique phone number. * Lightpost automatically filters out duplicate numbers and duplicate recipients. * If multiple people have the same phone number, only one message will be sent. * If a user has multiple mobile phone numbers, a message will only be sent to their primary number. ### First message confirmation When an MMS message is sent to a user from Lightpost for the first time, Lightpost sends a total of **3 messages** to inform the user about why they're receiving an MMS message from this number. These three messages will include information such as: * The first message let's the user know what congregation text messages from this phone number are coming from. * The second message informs the user how to opt-out of and opt-in to future messages. * The third message is the first message you are sending to the group. These messages only happen one time for each users' phone number, regardless of what group the MMS comes from. ### How to send an MMS message #### **STEP 1** * Be sure the "**Enable messaging by MMS**" option is selected in the "**Messaging**" tab for the group.
The MMS option in the "Messaging" tab for a group.
#### **STEP 2** 1. Add yourself as an "**Authorized Sender**" in the tab option on the left. 1. Only people who are added to the authorized senders list can send an MMS message. This includes Account Admins. #### STEP 3 1. In the Admin, find the group you wish to message, and click on the group. 2. Go to the **"Send MMS"** section. 3. Enter the message you wish to send, and click "Send". 4. A cost estimate is provided for you.
### How to view MMS history 1. In the Admin, find the group you wish to message, and click on the group. 2. Go to the **"Message History"** section. 3. Click on any past message to view details about who received the text messages and any errors or failures. # Voice Calls Lightpost allows your congregation to make classic voice calls. The voice call tool, utilizing a dedicated number, is meant for one-way communication to phone numbers stored in a users' profiles. ### What is a voice call? * A voice call is an actual phone call made to a user in a group to communicate a message to. * Voice calls are sent by one of two options: * **Text-to-Speech** * You type out a message (see the "how to" section) to send to a group. * Lightpost then uses a text-to-speech mechanism to make the phone calls and read the message to the user. * **Voice Recording** * Lightpost will call you to record a message to be sent to the group. * After recording, the calls are made to the group and the recording is played. * Voice calls do have an extra cost associated with them due to the requirement of using a third party service to make the phone calls. ### How are voice calls counted? * Lightpost counts voice calls per minute spent calling and reading a message to a users' unique phone number. * Lightpost automatically filters out duplicate numbers and duplicate recipients. * If multiple people have the same phone number, only one call will be made. * If a user has multiple phone numbers, a call will only be sent to their primary number. ### How to send a voice call 1. In the Admin, find the group you wish to message, and click on the group. 2. Ensure that the "**Enable messaging by Voice**" option is selected in the "**Messaging**" tab and save changes. 1. Optionally enable the "Advanced Answering Machine Detection" 3. Ensure that you are an "**Authorized Sender**" in the Authorized Sender tab. 4. Go to the "**Send Voice**" section available for the group. 5. Either click to be called and record a message or type the message you wish to be read, and click "Send". ### Advanced Answering Machine Detection Lightpost also has an option when enabling voice calls to do advanced answering machine detection. This does extra work to detect if the voice call has not been answered, and instead been directed to a person's answering machine. This can help with voice calls being properly played after the beep of an answering machine, as opposed to not. With our service provider, this has a purported 94% accuracy rate. It does introduce an additional 1-2 second pause or delay when a human answers the phone, while the service determines if a person or an answering machine picked up. # Numbers for SMS, MMS & Voice All **group text messages (SMS)** will come from the number: > ### **1-888-707-4110** All **group text messages (MMS)** will come from the number: > ### **1-888-707-4110** All **voice calls** will come from the number: > ### **1-505-209-8770** All general notifications (SMS) will come from the number: > ### **TBD** # Messaging Policies View the subpages for specific content around messaging. {% content-ref url="/pages/dbzVowFRoHSkuSANOVG3" %} [Communication Use Policy](/core-concepts/groups/messaging-policies/communication-use-policy) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/FEiJgzGDW6QosTu5T5Qp" %} [SMS message length limits](/core-concepts/groups/messaging-policies/sms-message-length-limits) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/O4bmyFeu515Jrc5wnoFY" %} [Email Costs](/core-concepts/groups/e-mailing/email-costs) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/oAngWhdyfhMYc4Cx2PS0" %} [Numbers for SMS, MMS & Voice](/core-concepts/groups/numbers-for-sms-mms-and-voice) {% endcontent-ref %} # Communication Use Policy Lightpost has strict use policies for sending emails, SMS and voice calls. ### Overview Lightpost offers the ability to send emails, SMS/MMS messages and voice calls to groups created in your congregations' account. The users added to these groups are **not required** to be **members** of your congregation to be able to send communication using these methods. A great use case for this is creating a "Former Members" group that you can send occasional emails to, with news and updates about events and things happening with your congregation. ### Known Users Only However, you **may not** use the group messaging features to: * send **unsolicited** communication to **anyone** * send messages to users who **would not expect** to be in your Lightpost account * send messages to **email lists** acquired by any means * send messages to **phone lists** acquired by any means * send messages to people who have **requested** to **not receive messages** The people you send messages to **must** be added by an admin of your congregation, and **must** have or had a **direct and intentional affiliation** with your congregation, to the extent that they **would not be surprised** to receive any type of communication from you. ### Violations Any congregation found to be adding users based on lists acquired for marketing or outreach purposes risks immediate account closure. **Lightpost is not a marketing or advertising tool.** If you're in need of a marketing tool to send communication to users from lists (email, phone, etc), please reach out to Lightpost support for suggestions on the best way to do this using industry tools built specifically for this purpose. The reputation of Lightpost is of upmost importance in this regard and there are no exceptions to this rule. # SMS message length limits Lightpost follows the technical 160 character limit per SMS. Lightpost uses 3rd party providers to send different types of communication to your groups. These 3rd party providers do their billing based on the 160 character [limitation of the SMS](https://www.twilio.com/docs/glossary/what-is-an-sms-short-message-service) (hence the name "Short Messaging Service"). Lightpost limits each SMS message sent to this same limitation to avoid unexpected "double message" charges. #### My other provider had a 300 character limit Some text service providers provide a "larger limit" -- however, they are still bound to this same [technical limitation](https://www.twilio.com/docs/glossary/what-sms-character-limit). Often, other services pricing per SMS message is high enough to cover the cost of a 300 character message using two SMS credits. This provider can then average the cost of other messages that stay below the 160 character limit. #### But longer messages appear as one SMS from other providers The SMS protocol does allow for "[message concatenation](https://support.plivo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041742091-How-does-SMS-concatenation-work)", which adds special information to a series of SMS messages to make it appear as one long message on the phone for the recipient. However, the whole message is still sent using **153** character **segments** using this method, [each billed separately](https://help.twilio.com/articles/223133407-How-much-does-it-cost-to-send-a-message-with-more-than-160-characters-). #### Why doesn't Lightpost allow message segmentation? In the interest of transparency around billing, there is one text field for creating and sending [one text message](https://support.plivo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041298072-What-is-the-character-limit-for-SMS-text-messages). This means that one message sent equals one message billed. You are free to send multiple messages one after the other, to send longer messages. Also check out [sending with MMS](/core-concepts/groups/sms-1) for longer messages. # E-mail Costs Why do you charge for emails? Shouldn't emailing be free? We agree that emails are very ubiquitous and easy for individuals to use. Anyone can sign-up for a free email address and starting sending and receiving emails with a provider of their choice! However, for sending 10s of thousands of emails per month for a platform like Lightpost, there are a number of factors to consider. ### Factors to Consider There are a number of things that a large email provider has to consider to make sure that emails arrive in your inbox as expected. Large end-user email service providers like Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook and others will quickly start sending your mass emails to spam, or worse, reject your emails that you're trying to send to your Lightpost groups. These factors include things such as: * Spam complaints (almost always accidental!) * Invalid email addresses (bounces) * Unsubscribe and resubscribe requests * Email domain reputation - to keep messages out of the junk folder of your users ### Email Provider Industry These factors have become an **exponentially increasing** concern for email providers over the last few years. Both for emails and SMS proviers. This has resulted in a **large increase in costs**, as well as many additional **verification** and **validation** hoops to jump through with email providers. As a point of proof: recently **other church apps** have **stopped offering email** as a method of communication altogether due to the complexities of dealing with email correctly. ### Email Provider Costs Just to give an example: [Postmark](https://postmarkapp.com/) is an exceptional email provider, who is very strict about how many spam complaints you're allowed to have before you're kicked off the platform. Their email service starts at [$1.80 per 1,000](https://postmarkapp.com/support/article/1282-changes-to-postmark-s-pricing-in-2023) additional emails sent. This is currently **50% higher** than what Lightpost charges (as of June 2024). ### Future Costs Lightpost is continually evaluating service providers and seeking options to lower costs for the Lord's church. We're working hard to avoid having to increase costs in the future, even though [service providers are increasing their costs](https://postmarkapp.com/support/article/1282-changes-to-postmark-s-pricing-in-2023). # Roles Roles are different from Groups in that they are only used determine what access a user account has to Lightpost. Roles have only a couple, but important, purposes: * **Define membership** of your congregation (see "indicates membership" below). * **Grant permissions** to specific parts of Lightpost. * **Organize access** to parts of Lightpost, allowing delegation of responsibilities to specific parts of Lightpost. ### ☑️ "Indicates Membership" There is an **"Indicates Membership"** option that can be enabled on any role. By enabling this option on a role: **anyone** who is assigned this role will be able to **login as a member** to **your** Lightpost account. Any user who is given a role with this option enabled now has access to all the standard member features that are activated for your account. This includes the Directory, Prayer List, Group Posts, Sermons, Involvement, and more. The "Indicates Membership" option **does not grant any admin permissions**. It only provides access to the member-facing features of Lightpost. A user must belong to **at least one role** that has "Indicates Membership" enabled in order to log in. ### Visitors & Non-Members Lightpost does not offer any options to provide a limited level of access to visitors or non-members. In terms of access, there are only **members and non-members**. A user either has a role with "Indicates Membership" enabled (and can log in), or they do not (and cannot log in). **Roles are only needed for members and should only be used for members.** You should use Groups for defining and organizing things like former members, visitors, non-members, etc. ### Permissions For each role, there are a number of permissions that can be enabled or disabled. {% hint style="danger" %} **Important:** Most permissions are specific to **Admin Access**. {% endhint %} There is **not** the ability to limit what a normal member of your congregation sees or has access to. By selecting the "indicates membership" option for a role, this automatically grants them access to all standard member features, such as viewing the Directory, Prayer List, Group Posts, etc. Permissions are organized into some of the following groups:
Permission GroupWhat It Controls
AccountManage account-level settings
UsersView, create, edit, and delete people; manage their roles and groups; view extended profile info; manage family photos
RolesView, create, edit, and delete roles; assign and unassign roles to users
GroupsView and manage groups; assign and unassign users to groups
FinanceAccess giving/contribution data, manage financial records, view reports, view contribution amounts
AnnouncementsView, create, edit, and delete announcements
CalendarsView, create, edit, and delete calendar events
SermonsView, create, edit, and delete sermons
AttendanceView and manage attendance records; record general, per-user, and class attendance
PrayersView, create, edit, and delete prayer requests
InvolvementManage involvement/ministry areas and selections
Bible ClassesManage Bible classes; register for classes (member app)
Worship AssignmentsView and manage worship assignment schedules
Family CirclesView and manage family circle groups
InteractionsCreate, view, and manage interaction/contact notes
PodcastsView, create, edit, and delete podcasts
ReportsAccess reporting features
FilesView, upload, and manage shared files
Child Check-inManage child check-in settings and enable kiosk mode
Crisis Check-inManage crisis/emergency check-in
Visitor TrackingView and manage visitor records and settings
ProgramsView and manage church programs
WebsiteManage your Lightpost website, edit pages, and view site statistics
Sign-up SheetsView and manage sign-up sheets
Song TrackingView and manage song tracking (admin and member app)
Within each group, permissions are typically broken down into finer actions such as **view**, **manage** (create/edit), and **delete**, giving you granular control over what each role can do. Some permissions are flagged as **"Member App"** permissions -- these control specific features within the member-facing app (e.g., the ability for members to register for Bible classes or manage their own involvement selections). ### Default Roles When a new Lightpost account is created, the following default roles are available as a starting point. You can customize these or create your own:
RoleDescription
Account AdminFull access to all features and settings
ElderAvailable for you to define permissions
DeaconAvailable for you to define permissions
MemberStandard membership access with no admin permissions
These roles can be fully customized -- you can rename them, change their permissions, or delete them (with the exception of system-protected roles). You can also create entirely new roles to fit your congregation's structure. # Directory The Directory gives members quick access to contact information for others in your church. Find families, get phone numbers, send emails, and get driving directions—all from one place. {% hint style="info" %} Be sure to check our [Reference Directories](/features/directory/reference-directories) for sharing information about others. {% endhint %} ### Who Appears in the Directory #### Member Directory The main directory shows **members only**. Membership is determined by a user's role: * Each role in Lightpost has a "membership level" setting * Users with roles set to "Indicate Membership" appear in the directory * Users with "Visitor" or "Non-member" roles do not appear For more information on configuring roles and membership levels, see the [Roles & Permissions](/core-concepts/roles) Guide. #### Reference Directories In addition to the main member directory, your church can create [**reference directories**](#reference-directories) for specific groups. These are useful for: * Former Members * Volunteer groups Reference directories can include people who are not in the main member directory, making them flexible for special use cases. People being in a Reference Directory does not mean they are able to login to your Lightpost account. When reference directories exist, you'll see tabs at the top of the directory to switch between them. *** ### Finding People #### Search Use the search bar to find people by: * **Name** — First name, last name, or preferred name * **Email address** — Full or partial email * **Phone number** — Any format * **Address** — Street, city, or zip code Search looks across the entire family, so searching for a child's name will find their family. #### Browsing The directory is organized alphabetically by last name. Use pagination to browse through all entries. *** ### Directory Views #### List View (Default) Shows families in a card layout with: * Family last name * Head of household name (and spouse, depending on settings) * Children's names * Family photo thumbnail (if available) Click any card to view the full family details. #### Photo Directory Some churches also enable a photo-only view that displays a grid of family photos for quick visual browsing. *** ### Family Detail Page Clicking a family opens their full contact information: #### Family Members Lists each person in the household with: * Name and family role (child, etc.) * Baptism status (if enabled by your church) * Birthday (never shows the birth year — only shows if enabled by your church) * Baptism birthday (if enabled by your church) Click any family member to expand their details and download their vCard. #### Membership Information Depending on your church's settings, you may see: * **Member since** — Year the family joined * **Wedding anniversary** — Marriage date (if enabled) #### Addresses View all addresses for the family, including: * Address type (Home, Work, etc.) * Full formatted address * Map thumbnail preview * **Directions** button — Opens Google Maps with driving directions Mailing-only addresses are labeled and don't show the directions option. #### Phone Numbers Lists all phone numbers for family members: * Owner's name (or "Family" for shared numbers) * Phone number (tap to call) * Phone type (Mobile, Home, Work, etc.) **One-tap calling**: Tap any phone number to start a call directly from your device. #### Email Addresses Lists all email addresses for family members: * Owner's name (or "Family" for shared emails) * Email address (tap to compose) * Email type label **One-tap email**: Tap any email to open your email app with that address. *** ### Quick Actions #### Call Tap any phone number to immediately start a call. On mobile devices, this opens your phone app. On desktop, it may open your default calling application. #### Text On mobile devices, long-press a phone number to access messaging options, or use your device's standard text/SMS app with the displayed number. #### Get Directions Tap the **Directions** button next to any address to open Google Maps with turn-by-turn directions from your current location. #### Download vCard Each family member has a **vCard** download button. Tap it to save their contact information directly to your phone's contacts app. *** ### Privacy & Visibility #### What Others Can See Members can only view contact information that has been: * Entered into the system by church staff * Added or updated by individual members (is enabled for your account) * Not marked as hidden by the individual #### Hidden Information Users can request to have specific contact details hidden from the directory: * Individual phone numbers * Individual email addresses * Addresses Hidden items appear in the admin panel but not in the member-facing directory. #### Deceased Members Members marked as deceased are automatically excluded from the directory but their historical data is preserved in the admin system. *** ### Display Settings Your church administrator can customize what appears in the directory:
SettingEffect
Show directory by userLists individuals instead of families
Show spouse in family nameDisplays "John & Jane Smith" instead of just "John Smith"
Show member sinceDisplays membership year on family pages
Show wedding anniversaryDisplays marriage date on family pages
Show birthdaysDisplays birthday for each family member — birth year is never shown
Show baptism birthdaysDisplays baptism date for each family member
Hide baptism statusHides baptized/not baptized indicator
*** ### Mobile App The directory is fully functional in the Lightpost mobile app with the same features: * Search by name, email, phone, or address * Browse families alphabetically * View full family details * One-tap calling and texting * One-tap directions via maps app * Download vCards to your contacts The mobile app provides native integration with your device's phone, messaging, maps, and contacts apps for seamless communication. *** ### Frequently Asked Questions **Why can't I find someone in the directory?** They may not have a "Member" role, may have been marked as a visitor, or may have requested their information be hidden. **Why is someone's phone number or email missing?** That contact information may be marked as hidden, or it simply hasn't been entered into the system yet. **Can I update my own information?** Yes, if your congregation has enabled the ability for members to edit their information. Otherwise, you can always contact your church administrator or leadership to update your contact details in the directory. **How do I get added to a reference directory?** Reference directories are managed by administrators. Contact your church office to be added to a specific directory. **Is my information visible to everyone?** Only logged-in members can view the directory. Your information is not publicly accessible on the internet. # Reference Directories You can allow members to see "reference" or "heritage" directories — typically a way to list former members' contact information. {% hint style="danger" %} SPECIAL NOTES * A group with "Reference Directory" enabled will **expose ALL group members** and **their family information** to your **entire congregation**. * Please ensure that these groups are **pruned on a regular basis!** The people in these groups should be reviewed regularly to make sure their information should be open to your congregation. * Be sure you have **permission from those individuals and families** to continue to allow your congregation to have access to their contact information. {% endhint %} By default, every member can see the member directory, containing all your current members. However, some situations arise, such as members moving away, where members would like to still access contact information, even though they are no longer technically members at your congregation. In Lightpost, you can do this through a group option called a "**Reference Directory**". You can enable this under "Settings" on any group.

Group Settings where the "Reference Directory" option is located.

When the "Reference Directory" option is selected for a group — this group will now show up for all current members as an "alternative directory" for them to reference. This group and its users are not shown by default, but can be switched to it easily in the mobile and web app. Here is what these options appear like on the web and mobile apps:
Web App

Web App View

Mobile App

Mobile App View

# Calendars Lightpost's calendars helps your church organize and share events with members, groups, and the public. Create multiple calendars, set up recurring events, enable RSVPs & let members subscribe. ### Understanding Calendars #### Multiple Calendars You can create as many calendars as needed to organize your church's events. Common examples: * **Main Church Calendar** — Worship services, church-wide events * **Youth Group** — Youth group meetings, retreats, activities * **Public Information** — Sunday school, VBS, family events * **Small Groups** — Bible studies, home groups * **Facilities** — Room reservations, building usage Each calendar has its own color, making it easy to visually distinguish events when viewing multiple calendars together. #### Calendar Visibility Levels Calendars have three visibility settings that control who can see them:
VisibilityWho Can SeeUse Case
HiddenOnly users with admin accessInternal planning, draft events, staff scheduling
MembersLogged-in church membersRegular church events, member-only activities
PublicAnyone (no login required)Events you want visitors to see on your website
**Important:** Only mark calendars as "Public" if you're comfortable with all events on that calendar being visible to anyone on the internet. #### Group Calendars Group calendars are tied to a specific group in Lightpost. Only members of that group can see the calendar and its events. **Use cases:** * Small group meeting schedules * Ministry team events * Committee meetings * Choir rehearsals **When a calendar is linked to a group:** * Only group members see the calendar in the member app * Events appear in members' calendar feeds * Great for keeping group-specific events organized *** ### Creating Calendars #### Creating a New Calendar 1. Go to **Calendars** in the admin panel 2. Click the **Calendars** dropdown button 3. Click **New Calendar** 4. Enter the calendar details: * **Name** — The calendar's display name * **Color** — Background and text colors for events * **Group** — (Optional) Link to a specific group * **Public** — Check to make visible on public websites * **Hidden** — Check to hide from members (admin-only) 5. Click **Save** #### Calendar Colors Choose colors that help users quickly identify event types: * Use distinct colors for different calendars * Consider accessibility — ensure text is readable against the background * Be consistent — members will learn to associate colors with event types *** ### Creating Events #### Basic Event Information When creating an event, you can set:
FieldDescription
TitleThe event name
CalendarWhich calendar this event belongs to
Date & TimeWhen the event occurs
All DayCheck for events without specific times
LocationWhere the event takes place
OverviewShort summary shown in listings
DescriptionFull event details
#### Recurring Events Create events that repeat automatically: **Frequency options:** * **Daily** — Every day or every X days * **Weekly** — Same day(s) each week * **Monthly** — Same date or same weekday each month * **Yearly** — Annual events **Advanced recurrence:** * Choose specific days of the week * Set "First Monday," "Last Friday," etc. * Specify an end date or number of occurrences **Examples:** * "Every Sunday at 10:00 AM" — Weekly worship service * "First Wednesday of each month" — Monthly business meeting * "Every Tuesday and Thursday" — Recurring Bible study Recurring events display a small repeating icon on the calendar to indicate they're part of a series. #### Editing Individual Occurrences For recurring events, you can modify individual occurrences without affecting the entire series. This is useful when: * A regular meeting moves to a different room one week * A single occurrence is cancelled * Time changes for a specific date *** ### Event Sign-ups / RSVP Enable RSVPs to track attendance and let members indicate their plans. #### Enabling Responses When creating or editing an event: 1. Check **Enable Responses** 2. Optionally check **Show Responses** to let members see who else is attending #### How Members RSVP 1. Member clicks on an event 2. Clicks **Register / RSVP** 3. For each family member, selects: * **Going** — Will attend * **Not Going** — Cannot attend * **Interested** — May attend Members can update their responses at any time by clicking the same buttons. #### Viewing Responses When "Show Responses" is enabled: * Members see a list of who responded and their status * Response counts are shown (Going, Not Going, Interested) * Names link to directory entries Admins can always view full response lists in the admin panel. *** ### Viewing Calendars #### In the Admin Panel The admin calendar view shows: * All calendars (regular and group calendars) * Toggle individual calendars on/off using checkboxes * Month, week, and list views * Click any event to view or edit details #### In the Member App Members see: * All non-hidden calendars they have access to * Group calendars for groups they belong to * Month, week, and list views * Click events to see details and RSVP #### Adding Events to Personal Calendars When viewing an event, members can click **Add to Calendar** to export to: * Apple Calendar * Google Calendar * Outlook.com * Yahoo Calendar * Download ICS file This adds the individual event (not the full calendar) to their personal calendar. *** ### Subscribing to Calendar Feeds Members can subscribe to Lightpost calendars in their favorite calendar apps. Subscribed calendars automatically sync, so new events appear without any action. #### Getting Your Feed Link 1. Go to **Calendar** in the member app 2. Click **Calendar Feeds** 3. Choose a feed: * **All Calendar Events** — Everything you have access to * **Individual calendars** — Subscribe to specific calendars 4. Copy the feed URL #### Subscribing in Calendar Apps **Apple Calendar (Mac/iPhone):** 1. File > New Calendar Subscription 2. Paste the feed URL 3. Choose refresh frequency **Google Calendar:** 1. Settings > Add Calendar > From URL 2. Paste the feed URL 3. Click "Add Calendar" **Outlook:** 1. Add Calendar > Subscribe from web 2. Paste the feed URL 3. Name the calendar and save **Important:** Keep your feed links private. They are personalized to you and provide access to all calendar data you can view in Lightpost. *** ### Printable Calendars Generate print-ready calendars for bulletins, newsletters, or posting in your building. #### Creating a Printable Calendar 1. Go to **Calendars** in the admin panel 2. Click **Printable Calendar** 3. Select options: * **Calendars** — Choose which calendars to include * **Month/Year** — Select the month to print * **Show Times** — Include event times * **Show Color Stripe** — Include calendar color indicators * **Show Birthdays** — Include member birthdays * **Font Size** — Small, Medium, or Large * **Orientation** — Portrait or Landscape 4. Click **Print** The printable view opens in a new tab, ready for printing or saving as PDF. #### Tips for Bulletin Inserts * Use **Portrait** orientation for half-page inserts * Use **Landscape** for full-page calendars * **Small** font size fits more events per day * Disable color stripe for black-and-white printing *** ### Website Integration Display your public calendars on your own website (outside of Lightpost). #### Website Code Snippet For churches not using a Lightpost website, you can embed public calendars on any website: 1. Go to **Calendars** in the admin panel 2. Click **Website Code Snippet** (only appears if you have public calendars) 3. Copy the provided HTML code 4. Paste it into your website where you want the calendar to appear #### How It Works * The script loads an interactive calendar widget * Only calendars marked as "Public" are displayed * Events update automatically when you add or change them in Lightpost * No login required for visitors to view #### Lightpost Websites If you use a Lightpost-hosted website, public calendars can be added through the website builder without needing code snippets. *** ### Best Practices #### Organizing Calendars * **Keep it simple** — Don't create too many calendars; group similar events * **Use clear names** — "Youth Ministry" is better than "YM Events" * **Consistent colors** — Stick with your color scheme once established #### Event Information * **Include locations** — Even for familiar venues * **Write clear titles** — "Sunday Worship Service" not "Service" * **Add descriptions** — Include what to bring, who to contact, etc. #### Managing Recurring Events * **Plan ahead** — Set end dates for seasonal events * **Update individual occurrences** — Don't delete the whole series for one change * **Check the calendar** — Verify recurring events appear correctly #### Public Calendars * **Review before publishing** — Check all events on a calendar before making it public * **Keep internal events private** — Staff meetings, planning sessions, etc. * **Update regularly** — A current calendar builds trust with visitors *** ### Frequently Asked Questions **Can I have events on multiple calendars?** No, each event belongs to one calendar. Create separate events if needed on multiple calendars. **How do I cancel a single occurrence of a recurring event?** Edit that specific occurrence and mark it as cancelled, or delete just that occurrence. **Can members create events?** By default, only admins can create events. Admins manage all calendar content. **Why can't I see a calendar?** The calendar may be hidden (admin-only), or it may be a group calendar for a group you're not in. **How often do subscribed calendars update?** This depends on your calendar app settings, typically every 15 minutes to 24 hours. **Can visitors RSVP to events?** Currently, RSVP is only available to logged-in members. **What happens if I delete a calendar?** All events on that calendar are also deleted. This cannot be undone. **Can I import events from another calendar?** Contact support for assistance with importing events from other calendar systems. # Media & Collections Lightpost offers the ability to upload sermons, lessons and studies, along with files and links related to the content. ## Collections Lightpost offers the ability to organize your lessons/content into Collections (previously called "Tags"). Read more about Collections on the documentation page. {% content-ref url="/pages/NGZWota00T31j1geNg60" %} [Collections](/features/media-and-collections/collections) {% endcontent-ref %} ## Media You can upload and store sermons, Bible classes, or other lesson content and material with Lightpost, with extensive options. Read more about Media on the documentation page. {% content-ref url="/pages/xNf81g1232QFtRjzztbO" %} [Media / Sermons](/features/media-and-collections/media-sermons) {% endcontent-ref %} # Media / Sermons Media (previously called "Sermons" only) offers a great way to make Biblical content available to your members and the public. You have the ability to add media content for any sermon, Bible class, study, lesson or more in Lightpost. With a media entry, you can: * Upload audio file(s) (MP3) * Upload a custom cover image * Upload additional supporting files (PDF, PowerPoint, etc) * Add content such as summary, description and outline. * Link to exernal content: * YouTube * Vimeo * Facebook * Attach media to one or more [Collections](/features/media-and-collections/collections) * Adjust visibility (public, members-only, hidden) * Shareable links (via a Lightpost Website) ## Example When making media content available to members and/or the public (via a Lightpost Website and/or a Podcast published through Lightpost), here's an example of what you'll see:
# Collections Collections (previously called "Tags") has been updated to allow for better organization for admins and members alike. Lightpost offers the ability to organize your lessons/content into Collections (previously called "Tags"). Collections offer the ability to have: * Publish Date * Summary * Description * Visibility (Public, Members Only or Hidden) * Cover Image * Shareable links (via a Lightpost Website) * Tying to a Podcast published through Lightpost ### Visibility **Public:** When a collection is marked Public, it will be visible on your Lightpost Website, as well as to your members in the Lightpost app. {% hint style="warning" %} Note: Collections are not available through the website code snippet integration. {% endhint %} **Default:** When a collection is not marked public or hidden, it will only be visible to your Lightpost congregation members by default through Lightpost, for those who have access to your Lightpost account. **Hidden:** Hidden collections will only show for admins, and is a great way to archive or retain content in one place. ### Example When making collections available to members or via a Lightpost Website, this is an example of how collections are listed:
# Member Involvement Involvement Areas are a great way to allow your congregation to see all the possible ways they can be involved in the work of the church and indicate which ways they are willing to participate. ## Overview Involvement offers a multi-tier way to organize and present the possibilities to your congregation of the ways they can participate and help serve the church. These are organized into Categories, Areas and Subareas. You are encouraged to put a significant amount of thought into all the possible opportunities that could be available for members to help with or participate in. Be sure to read more about [volunteer management](/features/member-involvement/volunteers-management) and the [volunteer list](/features/member-involvement/volunteers-list). ### Admin View

Preview of creating and editing categories, areas and subareas for member involvement.

### Member View

Preview from the member standpoint of the Involvement categories.

Preview from a member standpoint of Involvement areas and subareas.

## Restrictions Each Category, Area and Subarea can have certain restrictions on them so that they only appear for certain people. * For men only * For women only * For baptized members only * For "approved to teach" members only * For "completed a background check" members only * Hidden (from all members) * Automatically approve for assignments * Automatically show in volunteers list # Volunteers Management For all members that select involvement areas, you have a couple of options around what "side effects" might happen from that. ## Approved for Assignments The assignments "auto-fill" feature can automatically pull from a specific Involvement Area, but you can indicate, as an admin, whether people in that list should be part of the auto-rotation or not. Toggling this option on or off will enable or disable them from being selected as part of the auto-fill process for Assignments. ## Show in Volunteer List You can give access to members via [Roles](/core-concepts/roles) to view who has opted in to certain Involvement Areas. However, as an admin, you can select for certain members to now show in list based on your own criteria. Toggling this option on or off will show or hide them from the [Volunteer List](/features/member-involvement/volunteers-list).

Preview of viewing and toggling these options for users in a specific subarea.

# Volunteers List You can provide access via Roles for people to see a list of what members have selected which Involvement Areas. This volunteer list is located in both the mobile and [member web app](/getting-started/welcome-to-lightpost). The intent here is that you may, for example, provide access to all the elders and deacons of the congregation to see and utilize the list of volunteers. Lightpost keeps this list more on the "member side" or the platform, so that deacons are not expected to need to learn the "admin side" of Lightpost.

A preview of the volunteer list from the member website.

# Prayer Lists Prayer Lists let your congregation share, track, and follow prayer requests. Members can submit requests, add updates, indicate they are praying, and stay informed as situations develop. ### Enabling Prayer Lists #### Step 1: Assign Permissions By default, members can see and access Prayer Lists. No special permissions are needed for regular members. Admin users need appropriate permissions to manage prayer requests: 1. Go to **Settings > Roles & Permissions** 2. Select the role you want to modify 3. Enable these permissions as needed: * **View Prayer List** — Browse prayer requests in admin * **Manage Prayer List** — Create, edit, approve/decline requests, manage folders and settings * **Delete Prayer List** — Delete prayer requests *** ### Prayer List Settings Access settings from **Admin > Prayer List > Settings**. These are account-wide toggles that affect all members. #### Member Submissions
SettingDescription
Allow members to submit prayer requestsWhen enabled, members can submit prayer requests from the member web app and mobile app.
Automatically approve member submitted prayer requestsWhen enabled, submitted requests are published immediately without admin review. When disabled, requests go into a pending queue for admin approval.
#### Likes ("Praying") The likes feature lets members indicate they are praying for a request. It appears as a "Praying" button on each prayer request.
SettingDescription
Allow members to indicate they are praying for a requestEnables the "Praying" button on prayer requests. Members can toggle it on and off.
Show the number of members praying for a requestDisplays a count of how many members are praying (e.g., "5 people praying"). When disabled, members can still indicate they are praying but cannot see how many others are. Requires the above setting to also be enabled.
**Privacy:** The identity of who is praying is never shared. Members can only see their own praying status and (if enabled) an aggregate count. No names or user information is ever displayed alongside likes. *** ### Creating Prayer Requests #### From the Admin Panel Admins with the **Manage Prayer List** permission can create prayer requests from **Admin > Prayer List > Create**.
FieldDescription
TitleA short summary of the prayer request
DetailsFull description of the situation
FolderOptional folder to organize the request
User TagsTag members related to the request — their contact information will be shown to other members for easy reach-out
Prayer EditorsDesignate members who can add and edit updates on this request (see below)
Expires AtAutomatically hide the request after this date
HiddenHide the request from members (admin-only visibility)
#### From the Member App (Web & Mobile) When **Allow members to submit prayer requests** is enabled in settings, members can submit requests from: * The **Prayer List** page in the member web app (via the "Submit a Request" button) * The **Prayer List** screen in the mobile app Members provide a **title** and **details**. If auto-approval is enabled, the request is published immediately. Otherwise, it enters a pending queue for admin review. #### From the Mobile App (Admin) Admins can also create prayer requests from the mobile app with the same fields available in the admin panel, including folder assignment, expiration dates, visibility settings, user tags, and prayer editors. *** ### Prayer Editors Prayer editors are specific members designated on a prayer request who are allowed to: * **Add updates** to the prayer request * **Edit existing updates** on the prayer request This is useful when the subject of a prayer request (or someone close to them) should be able to provide progress updates without having full admin access. Prayer editors are set by admins when creating or editing a prayer request. They appear in the "Prayer Editors" field on the admin create/edit forms. **Note:** Prayer editors cannot edit the prayer request itself (title, details, etc.) — only add and edit updates. The original prayer request can be edited by admins or the member who originally submitted it. *** ### Approving & Declining Requests When auto-approval is disabled, submitted prayer requests enter a **pending** state. #### From the Admin Panel 1. Go to **Admin > Prayer List** 2. Pending requests appear in a **Pending Member Requests** section 3. Click on a pending request to view it 4. Click **Approve Request** to publish it or **Decline Request** to archive it #### From the Mobile App Admins can also manage pending requests from the mobile app: 1. Navigate to the pending requests section in Prayer List 2. View the request details 3. Approve or decline the request **Notes:** * Approving a request makes it visible to all members and sends notifications to those who have opted in * Declining a request archives it — the submitting member is **not** notified * Hidden requests do not trigger notifications, even when approved *** ### Prayer Updates Updates provide a timeline of progress on a prayer request. They appear in chronological order beneath the original request details. #### Who Can Add Updates * **Admins** with the Manage Prayer List permission * **Prayer editors** designated on the specific prayer request #### Adding Updates (Admin Panel) From the prayer request edit page in admin, use the **Add an Update** form at the top of the left column. #### Adding Updates (Member Web App) When viewing a prayer request, members who are designated as prayer editors will see an **Add an Update** button. Clicking it opens a modal where they can enter the update details. A notice in the modal informs them that the update will be published immediately, is visible to the entire congregation, and will send notifications to members who have opted in. #### Adding Updates (Mobile App) Both admins and prayer editors can add updates from the mobile app when viewing a prayer request. #### Editing Updates Updates can be edited by: * Admins with the Manage Prayer List permission * Prayer editors on the parent prayer request In the member web app, an **Edit** button appears next to each update the current user has permission to modify. Clicking it opens a modal to edit the update text. *** ### Viewing Prayer Requests #### Member Web App The Prayer List page shows: * **Folders** at the top for organized browsing * **Prayer requests** listed below with title, last updated time, update count, and like indicators * Click any prayer to view its full details, updates timeline, tagged members, and the praying button #### Mobile App The mobile app provides a full prayer list experience: * Browse all visible prayer requests * View individual prayer details with full update history * Submit new prayer requests (when enabled) * Indicate you're praying for a request * Add updates (if you're an admin or prayer editor) * Approve or decline pending requests (admin) *** ### Folders Folders help organize prayer requests into categories (e.g., "Health", "Family", "Missions"). #### Managing Folders 1. Go to **Admin > Prayer List** 2. Use the sidebar to create, edit, reorder, or delete folders 3. Assign prayers to folders when creating or editing them #### Folder Visibility Folders can be marked as **hidden**, which hides the folder and all prayers inside it from members. This is useful for preparing a set of prayers before making them public. *** ### Notifications Prayer list notifications are sent to members who have opted in to receive them. Two types of notifications can be sent: * **New Prayer Request** — When a new prayer is published (created by admin, or approved from pending) * **Prayer Update** — When an update is added to an existing prayer Notifications are **not** sent when: * A prayer request is hidden * A prayer request is pending approval (not yet approved) * The parent prayer of an update is hidden Notification delivery methods (email, mobile push) are configured in the Prayer List notification settings by the admin. *** ### Mobile App Features The mobile app provides full prayer list functionality:
FeatureWho Can Use It
View prayer listAll members
View prayer details & updatesAll members
Submit a prayer requestAll members (when enabled in settings)
Indicate "Praying"All members (when likes enabled)
Edit own submitted prayerThe member who submitted it
Add/edit updatesAdmins and designated prayer editors
Create prayer requests (full)Admins
Edit prayer requests (full)Admins
View pending requestsAdmins
Approve/decline requestsAdmins
Delete prayer requestsAdmins with delete permission
*** ### Frequently Asked Questions **Can members see who is praying for a request?** No. The identity of who is praying is never shared. Members can only see their own status and an aggregate count (if the count setting is enabled). **Can members edit their own submitted prayer requests?** Yes. The member who originally submitted a prayer request can edit its title and details. **What happens when a prayer request expires?** It is automatically hidden from members. Admins can still see and manage expired requests. **Can prayer editors edit the original prayer request?** No. Prayer editors can only add and edit updates. The original request can be edited by admins or the member who submitted it. **How do I designate someone as a prayer editor?** When creating or editing a prayer request in the admin panel, use the "Prayer Editors" field to search for and select members. **Are hidden prayer requests visible to anyone?** Only admins with the appropriate permissions can see hidden prayer requests. They are not visible in the member web app or mobile app. **Do hidden prayers send notifications?** No. Hidden prayers and their updates never trigger notifications, even if notifications are otherwise enabled. # Sign-up Sheets Sign-up Sheets digitizes the classic "sign-up sheet in the foyer" experience. Create digital sign-ups for events, meals, volunteering, and more—accessible from anywhere. ### Enabling Sign-up Sheets #### Step 1: Enable the Feature 1. Go to **Account Settings** in the admin panel 2. Navigate to the **Add-ons** section 3. Find **Sign-up Sheets** and toggle it on #### Step 2: Assign Permissions Users need appropriate permissions to create and manage sign-up sheets: 1. Go to **Settings > Roles & Permissions** 2. Select the role you want to modify 3. Enable these permissions as needed: * **View Sign-up Sheets** — Browse sheets in admin * **Manage Sign-up Sheets** — Create, edit, delete sheets and entries *** ### Creating a Sign-up Sheet Sign-up sheets can be created from the admin site or mobile app. Only a title is required — everything else is optional. #### Basic Information
FieldDescription
TitleWhat people are signing up for (required)
IconEmoji for visual identification
OverviewShort description shown in listings
DescriptionFull details shown on the sheet
LocationWhere the event takes place
Event Date/TimeWhen the event occurs
#### Visibility Settings Control when and how your sheet appears:
SettingDescription
Visible DateWhen the sheet appears in listings (leave blank for immediately)
Sign-up OpensWhen sign-ups begin accepting entries (but is visible before this)
Sign-up ClosesWhen sign-ups stop accepting entries (but is visible after this)
HiddenHides sheet from everyone except admins
ArchivedRemoves from active listings but preserves data
#### Member Options
SettingDescription
Allow members to view entriesLet members see who else has signed up
Allow members to sign up othersLet any member sign up other members (not just themselves and their family)
#### Public Access Make your sheet accessible to anyone with the link:
SettingDescription
Make PublicEnables a shareable link and QR code
PasswordOptional password protection for public access
When enabled, you'll be able to access in the admin: * A shareable URL * A QR code to print or display #### Sections Sections organize your sheet into logical groups. Examples: * A sheet called "**Potluck**" with sections: * "Main Dishes", "Side Dishes", "Desserts" * A sheet called "**Volunteering"** with sections: * "Setup Crew", "Greeters", "Cleanup" * A sheet called "**Needed Service Times"** with sections: * "8:30 AM", "10:00 AM", "11:30 AM" **Section settings:**
SettingDescription
TitleSection name
DescriptionAdditional context
Max Sign-upsLimit the number of entries
Max PeopleLimit total people (entries + additional guests)
Allow Additional GuestsLet people indicate bringing unnamed guests (+1's)
Accept Sign-upsToggle sign-ups on/off for this section
If you don't need sections, simply leave the default — the section UI is hidden when there's only one. #### Sheet Admins Designate members who can manage entries from the member app: * Add entries for any member or guest * Edit or delete any entry * Always see the entry list (even when hidden from other members) Sheet admins don't need admin panel access—they manage entries directly from the member web and mobile apps. *** ### Signing Up #### Member Self Sign-up Members can sign up themselves and their family members: 1. Open the sheet from the member app or web app 2. Click **Sign Up** on the desired section 3. If you have family members, select who is signing up 4. Add optional details: email, phone, additional guests, comment 5. Submit **Notes:** * Each selected family member creates their own entry * Members already signed up appear disabled in the family list * Contact details are stored only on the primary entry #### Signing Up Other Members When **Allow members to sign up others** is enabled: 1. Click **Sign Up Others** on a section 2. Search for and select a member 3. If they have family, select which family members to include 4. Optionally add guest details manually (creates entry without user link) 5. Submit #### Sheet Admin Sign-ups Sheet admins (and users with manage permissions) have additional capabilities: * **Add Entry** button on each section * Search for any member or enter guest details manually * Select family members when signing up a member * Edit or delete any entry on the sheet #### Public/Guest Sign-ups For public sheets, anyone with the link can sign up: 1. Visit the public URL or scan the QR code 2. Enter password if required 3. Click **Sign Up** 4. If multiple sections exist, select which sections to join 5. Enter name (required), email, phone, additional guests, comment (all optional) 6. Submit **Notes:** * No account is created * No confirmation email is sent * Sign-up counts are not shown to public visitors * Full sections display a "Full" badge *** ### Viewing Sign-ups #### In the Member App * Browse available sheets at **Sign-up Sheets** in the sidebar * View sheet details including sections and availability * See who has signed up (when **Allow members to view entries** is enabled) * See a "Signed Up" badge on sections you've joined #### Entry Visibility
User TypeCan See Entries
Admin panel usersAlways
Sheet adminsAlways
Regular membersWhen "Allow members to view entries" is enabled
Public visitorsNever (only "Full" badge when section is full)
#### Capacity Display * **Spots available**: Shows remaining capacity when a limit is set * **Full**: Displayed when section has reached capacity * No limit set: No capacity information shown *** ### Printing & Exporting #### Export Entries (Admin) From the entries page in admin: * **CSV** — Download entries as a spreadsheet * **PDF** — Download a formatted table of entries Both exports include: Name, Section, Email, Phone, Additional Guests, Comment, Admin Notes, Sign-up Date Exports respect any active search or section filters. #### Printable Sign-up Sheet Generate a blank sign-up form for physical use: 1. Go to the sheet in admin 2. Click **Printable Sheet** or **Download Printable** 3. A PDF is generated with: * Sheet title, date, time, location header * Section subheaders (if multiple sections) * Numbered blank rows for handwritten names * Row count based on section capacity (or 20 if no limit) Perfect for: * Placing in the church foyer * Events without reliable internet * Backup sign-up method *** ### Tips & Best Practices #### Planning Your Sheet * **Keep titles clear**: "Thanksgiving Potluck 2024" is better than "Sign Up Here" * **Use sections wisely**: Group by role, time slot, or item category * **Set realistic limits**: Consider your actual capacity for each section #### Managing Sign-ups * **Monitor capacity**: Check entry counts before events * **Use sheet admins**: Delegate entry management without giving full admin access * **Archive when done**: Keep data but remove from active listings #### Public Sheets * **Share the QR code**: Display in foyer, bulletins, or announcements * **Add a password**: For sheets that should be semi-private * **Set sign-up windows**: Open and close sign-ups automatically with date/time settings #### Family Sign-ups * Members can sign up their entire household in one step * Each family member gets their own entry for accurate headcounts * Already-signed-up family members are automatically disabled *** ### Common Scenarios #### Potluck Dinner 1. Create sheet: "Fall Potluck - November 15" 2. Add sections: Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Desserts, Drinks 3. Set max sign-ups per section to prevent overload 4. Make public and share QR code 5. Enable "Allow members to view entries" so people can see what's being brought #### Volunteer Positions 1. Create sheet: "Sunday Morning Volunteers - January" 2. Add sections for each role: Greeters, Ushers, Tech Team, etc. 3. Set max sign-ups based on positions needed 4. Keep private (members only) 5. Assign team leaders as sheet admins #### Event Registration 1. Create sheet: "Youth Group Retreat" 2. Add details about the event to the description, such as dates, location, times and supply materials. 3. Single section with max people limit 4. Enable additional guests for parents signing up kids 5. Set sign-up window with start/end dates 6. Make public for easy sharing *** ### Frequently Asked Questions **Can guests sign up without creating an account?** Yes, when a sheet is made public. They only need to provide their name. **Can I limit how many people sign up?** Yes, set **Max Sign-ups** (number of entries) or **Max People** (entries + guests) on each section. **What happens when a section is full?** The sign-up button is disabled and a "Full" badge appears. Public visitors see "Full" but not the current count. **Can I edit someone else's sign-up?** Only if you're a sheet admin, have manage permissions, or are editing your own entry. **How do I close sign-ups?** Set an **End Date** for automatic closing, or toggle off **Accept Sign-ups** on each section manually. **Can members see who else signed up?** Only when **Allow members to view entries** is enabled. Public visitors never see the list. # Song Tracking Song Tracking helps you keep a record of songs sung during worship services. It provides a shared song library, song books, verse tracking, and a full history of what was sung, when, and by whom. ### Overview Song Tracking is built around three core concepts: * Song Books - Collections of songs, similar to a physical hymnal or a digital catalog. Your account can use shared song books provided by Lightpost or create custom books of your own. * Songs - Individual songs with metadata such as title, lyrics, musical key, authors, CCLI number, and verses. * Song Events - A record of a song being sung during a service. Each event captures the date, service type, song leader, which verses were sung, and any notes. ### Permissions Song Tracking requires two things to be available: the Song Tracking feature must be enabled for your account, and individual users must be granted the appropriate roles. There are separate permissions for the Admin Panel and the Member App: #### Admin Panel * View Song Tracking -- Browse song books, view songs and their details, and review event history. This is read-only access; the user cannot make changes. * Manage Song Tracking -- Everything in View, plus the ability to create, edit, and delete song books, songs, and verses. Also allows managing song book preferences and copying shared catalogs. #### Member App * View Song Tracking -- See song events and history in the app, but cannot log new events or add comments. * Manage Song Tracking -- Everything in View, plus the ability to log song events, select verses, add comments, and mark favorites. #### How to Grant Permissions An account administrator can assign these permissions through Admin > Roles & Permissions. Create or edit a role, then check the appropriate Song Tracking permissions under the role's permission list. Assign that role to any users who need access. ### Getting Started #### Select Your Song Books Before you can log songs, you need to select which song books your congregation uses. 1. Go to Admin > Song Tracking > Books. 2. Under Available Shared Catalogs, find books that match the hymnals or song collections your congregation uses. 3. Click Select next to each book you want to use. Selected books will appear in the Your Selected Books section at the top of the page. 4. Mark one book as your Primary book. This book will be pre-selected when logging song events. 5. You can reorder your selected books by dragging them into your preferred order. If your congregation uses a hymnal that is not in the shared catalog, you can click Create Custom Book to add your own. #### Browse and Manage Songs Once you have selected your song books, you can browse the songs they contain. 1. Go to Admin > Song Tracking > Books and click on a book to view its songs. 2. Use the search bar to find songs by title, number, or author. 3. Click on any song to view its details, including verses, lyrics, event history, and book associations. 4. Log Song Events Song events are typically logged by a song leader or worship coordinator after (or before) a service. 1. Go to App > Song Tracking and click Add Song Event. 2. Fill in the service details: - Date - The date the songs were (or will be) sung. - Service Type - Select the service (e.g., Sunday Morning, Wednesday Night). - Song Leader - Search for a user in your account, select "I'm leading" to assign yourself, or type a custom name for someone not in the system. 3. Add songs to the event: - Click the song search field and type a song title or number. - Select the song from the results. - Click the verse number buttons to indicate which verses were sung. - Optionally add notes for that song entry. - Click Add Song to include additional songs in the same service. 4. Drag the handle icon on the left side of each song to reorder them to match the order they were sung. 5. Click Create Song Events to save. Each song you add creates its own event record, so a service with five songs produces five individual song events sharing the same date, service type, and leader. ### Admin Features Admins (users with the song-tracking.manage permission) have access to additional tools for managing the song library. #### Creating Songs on Custom Books 1. Go to Admin > Song Tracking and click Create Song. 2. Fill in the song details. #### Managing Verses Each song can have individually defined verses. 1. Open a song and go to the Verses tab. 2. Click Add Verse to create a new verse. 3. Set the verse type and, if needed, a custom label. 4. Verses are automatically numbered and available for selection when logging song events. #### Book Associations A single song can belong to multiple song books, each with its own song number and page number. 1. Open a song and go to the Book Associations tab. 2. Click Add to Book to associate the song with a book. 3. Enter the song number and/or page number for that book. #### Copying Shared Books If you want to customize a shared book (add songs, edit metadata), you can copy it to your account. 1. Go to Admin > Song Tracking > Books. 2. Find the shared book and click Copy to Account. 3. This creates a full copy of the book, its songs, and their verses under your account. You can then edit them freely without affecting other accounts. #### Song Preferences Song preferences let you customize how songs appear for your account without modifying the underlying song data. This is particularly useful for shared songs. #### Hidden Songs If your congregation does not sing certain songs in a shared book, you can hide them. Hidden songs are removed from search results and song lists but remain in the system and can be unhidden at any time. #### Key Override If your congregation sings a song in a different key than the one listed, you can set a preferred key override in the song preferences panel. This override is displayed alongside the original key. #### Excluded Verses If your congregation typically skips certain verses, you can mark them as excluded in the song preferences. Excluded verses will not appear as options when logging song events. #### Viewing History From the App The App > Song Tracking page shows two sections: * Upcoming - Song events scheduled for future dates. * History - Past song events in reverse chronological order. Click any event to view its details, including the song, verses sung, leader, and any comments. #### From Admin When viewing a song in the admin panel, the Event History tab shows every time that song has been sung, including the date, service type, leader, and verses. #### Song Statistics The song detail page displays key statistics: * Verses - Total number of defined verses. * Times Sung - Total number of song events recorded. * Last Sung - The most recent date the song was sung. * Key - The musical key of the song. * Meter - The lyric meter. #### Comments Users can add comments to individual song events to provide context, feedback, or notes. Comments are visible to anyone who can view the song event. 1. Open a song event from the history. 2. Type your comment in the comment field and submit. ### Mobile App Song Tracking is fully accessible from the Lightpost mobile app. You can: * Browse your selected song books and songs. * Search for songs by title or number. * Log song events with date, service type, leader, and verse selection. * Toggle favorite songs. * View event history and add comments. # File Sharing File Sharing lets your church distribute documents, media, and other files to members. Organize files in folders, control who can access them, and set expiration dates for time-sensitive content. ### Overview With File Sharing, you can: 1. **Upload files** — PDFs, documents, images, videos, audio, and more 2. **Organize with folders** — Group related files together 3. **Control visibility** — Restrict access to specific audiences 4. **Set expiration dates** — Automatically hide outdated content 5. **Share publicly** — Make files available on your Lightpost website *** ### Creating Files #### Uploading a New File 1. Go to **Files** in the admin panel 2. Click **New File** 3. Complete the form: * **Title** — Display name for the file * **Upload File** — Select the file from your computer * **Type** — Choose the file category (PDF, Document, Image, Video, Audio, Other) * **Folder** — (Optional) Select a folder to organize the file * **Expire Date** — (Optional) When the file should no longer be visible 4. Set visibility options (see Visibility Settings below) 5. Click **Create File** #### Supported File Types
TypeCommon Extensions
PDF.pdf
Document.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .txt
Image.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .webp
Video.mp4, .mov, .avi, .wmv
Audio.mp3, .wav, .m4a, .aac
OtherAny other file type
#### Editing Files 1. Click the pencil icon next to any file 2. Update the title, type, folder, expiration, or visibility 3. Click **Save Changes** **Note:** To replace the actual file, delete the existing one and upload a new file. *** ### Creating Folders Folders help organize your files into logical groups. #### Creating a New Folder 1. Go to **Files** in the admin panel 2. Click **New Folder** 3. Enter the folder details: * **Title** — The folder name * **Expire Date** — (Optional) When the folder should no longer be visible * **Subfolder of** — (Optional) Place inside another folder 4. Set visibility options 5. Click **Create Folder** #### Folder Nesting Folders can be nested **one level deep**. This means: * You can create folders at the root level * You can create subfolders inside root-level folders * You cannot create folders inside subfolders **Example structure:** ``` Ministry Resources/ ← Root folder ├── Worship Team/ ← Subfolder (allowed) │ └── Song Charts.pdf ← File in subfolder ├── Small Groups/ ← Subfolder (allowed) └── Leadership/ ← Subfolder (allowed) ``` #### Navigating Folders In the admin panel: * Click any folder to view its contents * Use the breadcrumb navigation to go back to parent folders * The file count and folder count are shown for each level *** ### Visibility Settings Control who can see your files and folders with these visibility options. #### Visibility Options | Setting | Who Can See | Use Case | | -------------- | ---------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | **Default** | All logged-in members | General church resources | | **Hidden** | Admins only | Draft files, internal documents | | **Public** | Anyone via Lightpost website | Public resources, visitor info | | **Men Only** | Male members only | Men's ministry resources | | **Women Only** | Female members only | Women's ministry resources | #### How Visibility Works * **Hidden files** appear in the admin panel but not in the member app * **Public files** are accessible on your Lightpost website (if enabled) * **Men/Women Only** files filter based on the member's gender in their profile * Visibility settings on folders apply to viewing the folder itself; files inside inherit their own settings #### Visibility Badges In the admin file list, visibility is indicated by colored badges: * **Hidden** — Gray badge * **Public** — Blue badge * **Men Only** — Blue badge * **Women Only** — Pink badge *** ### File Expiration Set expiration dates to automatically hide time-sensitive content. #### Setting an Expiration Date When creating or editing a file or folder: 1. Click the **Expire Date** field 2. Select the date when the content should expire 3. Save your changes #### What Happens When Content Expires * Expired files and folders no longer appear in the member app * Expired content remains in the admin panel (marked as expired) * You can extend or remove the expiration date at any time #### Use Cases for Expiration * Event handouts that are only relevant for a short time * Seasonal resources (VBS materials, Christmas programs) * Temporary announcements or bulletins * Time-limited study materials *** ### Organizing Files #### Moving Files to Folders When editing a file: 1. Select the destination folder from the **Folder** dropdown 2. Save changes To remove a file from a folder, select "None" from the folder dropdown. #### Sorting Files and Folders Files and folders can be reordered using drag-and-drop: 1. In the admin file list, hover over the drag handle (⋮⋮) on the left side of any row 2. Drag the item to its new position 3. The new order is saved automatically #### Storage Usage The admin panel displays your current storage usage, showing how much space your uploaded files occupy. Monitor this to manage your account's storage capacity. *** ### Member Access #### Viewing Shared Files Members access files through **Shared Files** in the member app: 1. Open the member app 2. Navigate to **Shared Files** 3. Browse folders and files 4. Click any file to download #### What Members See Members only see files and folders that: * Are not hidden * Are not expired * Match their gender (for Men/Women Only content) * They have permission to access based on their role #### Downloading Files When a member clicks a file: 1. A secure, temporary download link is generated 2. The file downloads to their device 3. The link expires after a few hours for security **Note:** Download links are personalized and time-limited. Members cannot share download links with non-members. *** ### Public Files Make files accessible to anyone through your Lightpost website. #### Making a File Public 1. Edit the file or folder 2. Check **Public** 3. Save changes #### Where Public Files Appear Public files can be displayed on your Lightpost website if your website template includes a files section. Contact your administrator to enable public file display on your website. #### Public vs. Member Files | Aspect | Member Files | Public Files | | -------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------- | | **Access** | Login required | No login needed | | **Visibility** | Member app only | Website + member app | | **Best for** | Internal resources | Visitor resources, public downloads | *** ### Best Practices #### Organizing Your Files * **Use descriptive titles** — "2024 VBS Registration Form" is better than "Form" * **Group related files** — Keep all small group materials in one folder * **Set expirations** — Don't let outdated content clutter your file list * **Review regularly** — Archive or delete files that are no longer needed #### Managing Visibility * **Start with default visibility** — Only restrict when necessary * **Use Hidden for drafts** — Upload files early, make visible when ready * **Consider your audience** — Use gender-specific folders for appropriate content #### File Naming * Include dates in titles for recurring content: "Weekly Bulletin - January 15, 2024" * Use consistent naming patterns across similar files * Avoid special characters that may cause download issues *** ### Frequently Asked Questions **How do I replace a file without changing the link?** Currently, you need to delete the old file and upload a new one. The download link will change. **Can members upload files?** No, only administrators with file management permissions can upload files. **What's the maximum file size?** This depends on your account settings. Contact support if you need to upload very large files. **Why can't a member see a file I uploaded?** Check that the file is not hidden, not expired, and that visibility settings (Men/Women Only) match the member's profile. **Can I create more than two levels of folders?** No, folders are limited to one level deep. You can have root folders and one level of subfolders. **Do expired files get deleted?** No, expired files remain in the system but are hidden from members. You can extend the expiration or delete them manually. **How secure are the download links?** Download links are temporary and personalized. They expire after a few hours and cannot be shared with others. **Can I see who downloaded a file?** Currently, individual download tracking is not available. # Bible Class Registration Bible Class Registration helps your church manage classes that change regularly—like quarterly adult Bible studies, Sunday school classes, or midweek studies. ### Overview Bible Class Registration is designed for classes that: * **Change regularly** — Quarterly rotations, seasonal studies, or periodic curriculum changes * **Need capacity planning** — Know how many people to expect for seating, materials, and refreshments * **Require attendance tracking** — Track who attends each week (when the Attendance feature is active) * **Welcome visitors** — Allow public registration through your Lightpost website *** ### Understanding the Structure #### Bible Class Groups A **Bible Class Group** represents a time period when classes are offered—typically a quarter, semester, or season.
FieldDescription
NameDescriptive name (e.g., "2024 - Quarter 2", "Fall 2024")
Start DateWhen classes begin
End DateWhen classes end
Sign-up ActiveWhether members can currently register
**Important:** Only one Bible Class Group can have sign-up active at a time. When you activate sign-ups for a new group, all other groups are automatically deactivated. #### Bible Classes Individual **Bible Classes** exist within a group. Each class has:
FieldDescription
TitleClass name (e.g., "Gospel of John Study")
DescriptionFull class details
Room/LocationWhere the class meets
Day of WeekWhich day the class occurs
TeachersAssigned teachers for the class
Attendance TypeCategory for grouping (e.g., "Adult Classes", "Youth Classes")
Enable Sign-upWhether members can register for this class
HiddenHide from members (admin and attendance only)
*** ### Creating Bible Class Groups #### Creating a New Group 1. Go to **Bible Classes** in the admin panel 2. Click **New Class Group** 3. Enter the group details: * **Name** — Use a clear, memorable name (e.g., "2024 - Quarter 3") * **Start Date** — First day of the class period * **End Date** — Last day of the class period * **Make sign-ups active** — Check to enable member registration 4. Click **Create Class Group** #### When to Create a New Group Create a new group when: * A new quarter or semester begins * You're rotating to new class topics * Teachers or schedules are changing * You need fresh registration counts #### Managing Multiple Groups The Bible Classes index shows all groups with: * Number of classes in each group * Total registrations across the group * Date range * Sign-up status (Active or Disabled) Click any group to view and manage its classes. *** ### Creating Bible Classes #### Adding a New Class 1. Open the Bible Class Group 2. Click **New Class** 3. Fill in the class details: * **Class Title** — What the class is about * **Description** — Details, prerequisites, what to bring, etc. * **Room Number / Location Name** — Where the class meets * **Teachers** — Select one or more teachers * **Day of the Week** — When the class meets * **Attendance Type / Group** — Category for organizing classes 4. Set options: * **Allow members to sign-up** — Enable registration from the mobile app * **Hide this class** — Only visible in admin for attendance tracking 5. Click **Create Class** #### Copying Classes from Previous Groups Save time by copying classes from a previous group: 1. Open the new Bible Class Group 2. Click the dropdown next to **New Class** 3. Select **Copy from previous class** 4. Choose the previous group to copy from 5. Select the specific class to copy 6. Optionally check **Copy registrations** to bring over existing registrants 7. Select which class's registrations to copy (can be different from the class template) 8. Click **Copy Class** This is especially useful when: * The same classes run each quarter * You want to pre-register returning students * Teachers and locations remain consistent *** ### Managing Registrations #### Viewing Registrations From the group view, each class shows: * **Registration count** — Number of people registered * **Sign-up badge** — Green if sign-ups enabled, gray if disabled * **Hidden badge** — Shown if class is hidden from members Click **Registration** on any class to see and manage the full list. #### Adding Registrations Manually 1. Click **Registration** on the class 2. Use the **User Search** to find members 3. Select members to add 4. Click **Save Registration** #### Removing Registrations 1. Click **Registration** on the class 2. Click the **X** next to any registered person 3. They are removed immediately *** ### Attendance Tracking When your account has the **Attendance** feature active, Bible Class Registration integrates directly with attendance tracking. #### How It Works * Each class is linked to an **Attendance Type** (e.g., "Adult Sunday School") * Registered members appear in attendance lists * Attendance can be taken from the admin panel or mobile app * Attendance history is preserved for reporting #### Taking Attendance from Mobile App Teachers and administrators can take attendance directly from the mobile app: 1. Open the mobile app 2. Navigate to attendance tracking 3. Select the Bible class 4. Mark members as present or absent 5. Attendance is recorded instantly #### Printable Attendance Sheets Generate PDF attendance sheets for taking attendance on paper: 1. Open the class in admin 2. Click **Attendance** (PDF icon) 3. A sheet generates with: * All registered members listed * Columns for each week of the quarter * Checkboxes pre-filled with recorded attendance *** ### PDF Reports #### Registration by Class Shows all registrations organized by class: 1. Go to the Bible Class Group 2. Click **Registration by Class** for an attendance type 3. PDF shows each class with its registered members #### Registration by User Shows all registrations organized by member: 1. Go to the Bible Class Group 2. Click **Registration by User** for an attendance type 3. PDF lists each member and which classes they're registered for #### Attendance Sheet Individual class attendance tracking sheet: 1. Click **Attendance** on any class 2. PDF generates with: * Class name and location * Registered members * Weekly date columns * Pre-filled attendance marks Use these reports for: * Capacity planning * Printing materials lists * Teacher preparation * Historical records *** ### Member Registration #### From the Mobile App When sign-ups are active, members see Bible Class Registration on their home screen: 1. Member opens the app 2. Views available classes with descriptions, teachers, and locations 3. Selects classes for themselves and family members 4. Confirms registration Members can: * See their current registrations * Register for additional classes * Unregister from classes (while sign-ups are active) #### Registration Status Members see their registration status: * **Registered** (green) — Currently signed up for classes * **Not Registered** (yellow) — No classes selected yet After registering, members see: * Day of week for each class * Class title * Room/location *** ### Public Website Registration Visitors can register for classes directly from your Lightpost website without logging in. #### How It Works 1. Visitor views available classes on your website 2. Enters their name and email 3. Selects desired classes 4. Submits registration #### Admin Notification When a visitor registers: 1. An email notification is sent to administrators 2. The email includes: * Visitor's name and email * Selected classes * Link to add them to the system 3. Admin manually adds the visitor to the appropriate classes #### Use Cases * **First-time visitors** exploring your church * **Returning guests** planning their visit * **Community members** interested in Bible studies * **Outreach** for publicly offered classes *** ### Class Visibility Options #### Public Classes By default, classes with sign-up enabled are visible to: * All church members in the mobile app * Visitors on your Lightpost website (if website integration is enabled) #### Hidden Classes Hidden classes are useful for: * **Attendance-only tracking** — Classes that don't need registration * **Internal organization** — Staff or leadership classes * **Ongoing classes** — Where the same people attend without registration Hidden classes: * Appear in the admin panel * Can have attendance recorded * Don't appear in member or public views * Can still have registrations managed by admins *** ### Best Practices #### Planning Your Groups * **Name groups clearly** — "2024 Q3" or "Fall 2024" works well * **Set accurate dates** — Helps with attendance sheet generation * **Activate sign-ups early** — Give members time to register before classes start #### Managing Classes * **Use attendance types** — Group similar classes (e.g., "Adult", "Youth", "Children") * **Assign teachers** — Helps members choose classes and helps you track responsibility * **Include locations** — Members need to know where to go * **Copy from previous** — Save setup time each quarter #### During the Quarter * **Monitor registrations** — Check counts before ordering materials * **Print attendance sheets** — Have backups for when technology fails * **Take attendance regularly** — Data is most accurate when recorded weekly #### After the Quarter * **Generate reports** — PDF reports preserve historical data * **Create new group** — Set up the next quarter before sign-ups need to open * **Copy registrations** — Bring forward members who typically return *** ### Frequently Asked Questions **Can members register for multiple classes?** Yes, members can register for as many classes as they want, on different days of the week. **What happens when I activate a new group?** The previous group's sign-ups are automatically deactivated. Only one group can accept registrations at a time. **Can I see who's registered without printing a PDF?** Yes, click **Registration** on any class to see the full list with the ability to add or remove members. **Do visitors get automatically added to classes?** No, when visitors register through the website, an email is sent to administrators who then manually add them to the system and classes. **Can teachers see their class registrations?** Teachers with admin access can view registrations. Teachers without admin access see registrations through the mobile app if they have attendance permissions. **What if someone registers but doesn't attend?** Their registration remains, but their attendance record will show they were absent. This helps identify inactive registrants. **Can I delete a registration?** Yes, click the X next to any name in the registration list. You can also use the mobile app to unregister members. **How do hidden classes work?** Hidden classes don't appear to members but can still have attendance tracked. Admins can manually add registrations if needed. **Can I limit class size?** Currently, there's no automatic capacity limit. Monitor registration counts and manually close sign-ups when full. **What happens to registrations when a group ends?** Registrations are preserved for historical reference. Create a new group for the next period and optionally copy registrations forward. # Programs Programs are available to all Lightpost accounts subscribed to at least the base subscription. {% hint style="info" %} Programs do incur an additional one-time fee per program created. See pricing page for more details. {% endhint %} {% embed url="" %} # Group Check-in Watch the included video for a full demo! To get started with checking in kids for PTP, follow these steps: 1. Download the Lightpost app. 1. [Download for iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lightpost-mobile/id1458435817) 2. [Download for Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tinybitfarm.lightpost) 2. Login with the credentials provided for PTP this year. 3. Open the "Menu" on the left-hand side. 4. Select "Programs" from the menu. 5. Tap on the "Polishing the Pulpit" program. 6. Tap on "Group Check-ins" 7. Scroll to the kids group you are responsible for. 1. Use the features provided there to check kids in or out, and view additional information about them. Watch this video on Vimeo, or with the included YouTube link. \ [https://vimeo.com/853419170/0dc7643ddd](https://vimeo.com/853419170/0dc7643ddd?share=copy) {% embed url="" %} # Emergency Check-in Emergency Check-in helps your church quickly account for members during a crisis—natural disasters, severe weather, etc. ### Overview When an emergency occurs, church leadership can create an Emergency Check-in that: 1. **Notifies members** via email and/or mobile push notifications 2. **Collects responses** — members indicate if they're OK, need help, or need urgent help 3. **Coordinates assistance** — members who are OK can see who needs help and respond 4. **Tracks everything** — admins see real-time response counts and can follow up with non-responders *** ### Setting Up Emergency Check-in Before you can use Emergency Check-in, configure the settings to determine who receives notifications and who is alerted when someone needs help. #### Accessing Settings 1. Go to **Emergency Check-in** in the admin panel 2. Click **Settings** If you see "(Missing!)" next to Settings, the feature hasn't been configured yet. #### Configuration Options
SettingDescription
Groups to NotifyGroups whose members will receive the check-in request when you create a new emergency
Help Request Notification GroupsGroups notified when someone responds "Help Needed"
Urgent Help Notification GroupsGroups notified immediately when someone responds "Urgent Help Needed"
Send via EmailEnable email notifications for help requests
Send via Mobile NotificationEnable push notifications for help requests
#### Recommended Setup 1. **Groups to Notify** — Add groups containing all members you want to check on (e.g., "All Members", "Active Families") 2. **Help Notification Groups** — Add your care team, deacons, or volunteer coordinators 3. **Urgent Help Notification Groups** — Add leadership, elders, or emergency response team members 4. Enable both **Email** and **Mobile Notification** for fastest response to help requests *** ### Creating an Emergency Check-in When an emergency occurs, create a new check-in to notify your congregation. #### Steps to Create 1. Go to **Emergency Check-in** in the admin panel 2. Click **New Check-in** 3. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Hurricane Milton", "February Ice Storm 2024") 4. Click **Create New Check-in** #### What Happens Next When you create a check-in: 1. **All previous check-ins are deactivated** — Only one check-in can be active at a time 2. **Notifications are sent immediately** — Members in the configured groups receive emails and/or push notifications 3. **Check-in records are created** — One record is created per family in the notification groups 4. **The check-in appears on member home screens** — An alert banner prompts members to respond #### Naming Best Practices Use specific, memorable names: * "Hurricane Helene - September 2024" * "February Winter Storm" * "Tornado Warning - March 15" Avoid generic names like "Emergency" or "Check-in" — members may have multiple check-ins over time. *** ### Member Response Options When members receive a check-in request, they can respond with one of three options: #### We're OK Select this when your family is safe and doesn't need assistance. * Displayed with a green checkmark * Encourages members to then look for others who may need help * No additional notifications are sent #### We Could Use a Little Help Select this when your family needs non-urgent assistance. * Displayed with a yellow hand icon * Examples: need supplies, could use help when someone is available, minor property damage * Members in the **Help Notification Groups** are notified via email and/or push notification #### We Need Urgent Help Select this when your family needs immediate assistance. * Displayed with a red warning icon * Examples: need someone to come help immediately, make contact ASAP * Members in the **Urgent Help Notification Groups** are notified immediately **Important:** If you need emergency medical help or other emergency services, call 911. Emergency Check-in is for church family coordination, not a replacement for emergency services. #### Adding Notes All response options include a notes field where members can: * Describe their specific situation * List what kind of help they need * Provide their current location * Share contact instructions *** ### Responding to Check-ins #### For Members When an Emergency Check-in is active: 1. **Home screen alert** — A prominent banner appears on the member app home screen 2. **Click "Check-in"** to respond that you're OK, or **"Request Help"** if you need assistance 3. **Select your status** and optionally add notes 4. **Submit** your response After responding, you can: * **View Responses** — See how other families have responded * **Change Response** — Update your status if your situation changes #### Responding via Email Link Members who receive email notifications can also respond directly: * Click the link in the email * A secure, tokenized page opens (no login required) * Select your status and submit This is helpful for members who may not have the app installed or easy app access during an emergency. *** ### Viewing and Managing Responses #### Response Dashboard The Emergency Check-in index page shows: * **Active check-in** — Highlighted with a green border and "Active" badge * **Response counts** — Real-time totals for each status: * OK (green) — Safe families * Need Help (yellow) — Families requesting assistance * Urgent (red) — Families needing immediate help * No Response (gray) — Families who haven't responded yet * **Total recipients** — How many families were notified #### Viewing Individual Responses Click **View Responses** on any check-in to see: * All families and their response status * Response notes from each family * Number of replies from helpers * Sorted by urgency (Urgent first, then Help, then OK, then No Response) #### Response Details Click any family to view their full check-in details: * Response status and timestamp * Notes they provided * All replies from helpers * Option to add your own reply *** ### Helping Others One of the key features of Emergency Check-in is enabling members who are OK to help those in need. #### Viewing Who Needs Help After checking in as OK: 1. Click **View Responses** from the home screen 2. See families organized by need level 3. Click any family to see their details and notes #### Replying to a Check-in When viewing someone's check-in details, you can reply to coordinate help:
Reply TypeUse When
Reaching Out to HelpYou're contacting them to offer assistance
On LocationYou've arrived to help
Contacting Others to HelpYou're recruiting additional helpers
Just a NoteGeneral update or information
Add notes to explain what you're doing or what help has been provided. #### Reply Visibility * All replies are visible to anyone viewing the check-in * This helps prevent duplicate efforts * Even if others have replied, more help may still be needed *** ### Editing and Deactivating Check-ins #### Editing a Check-in 1. Click the pencil icon next to any check-in 2. Update the name if needed 3. Toggle **Active** on or off 4. Click **Save Changes** #### Deactivating a Check-in When the emergency has passed: 1. Edit the check-in 2. Uncheck **Active** 3. Save Deactivating removes the check-in banner from member home screens but preserves all response data for future reference. **Note:** Creating a new check-in automatically deactivates all previous check-ins. *** ### Best Practices #### Before an Emergency 1. **Configure settings** — Set up notification groups before you need them 2. **Test the system** — Run a drill during a non-emergency to ensure everyone knows how to respond 3. **Communicate** — Let members know about the feature and how to use it #### During an Emergency 1. **Create immediately** — Don't wait; create the check-in as soon as you're aware of the situation 2. **Use a clear name** — Members should immediately understand what emergency this relates to 3. **Monitor responses** — Watch for urgent help requests that need immediate action 4. **Follow up** — Reach out to families who haven't responded, especially those in affected areas #### After an Emergency 1. **Deactivate when appropriate** — Once the immediate crisis has passed 2. **Review responses** — Document lessons learned 3. **Thank helpers** — Acknowledge those who responded to help others 4. **Keep records** — Historical check-ins remain available for reference *** ### Frequently Asked Questions **Who receives check-in notifications?** Members of the groups specified in the "Groups to Notify" setting. Notifications are sent per family, not per individual. **Can members respond without logging in?** Yes, via the email link. The link contains a secure token that allows response without authentication. **What if someone's situation changes?** Members can update their response at any time while the check-in is active by clicking "Change Response." **Can I have multiple active check-ins?** No, only one check-in can be active at a time. Creating a new one deactivates all previous check-ins. **Are check-in responses anonymous?** No, responses are associated with families so that helpers know who needs assistance and can coordinate aid. **Who can see the responses?** All logged-in members can view responses and offer help. This transparency enables mutual aid within the congregation. **What if someone doesn't have the app?** They can respond via the email link, or another family member with app access can submit the family's response. **How do I know if someone needs help?** If you're in the Help or Urgent Help notification groups, you'll receive email and/or push notifications when someone requests help. **Can I delete a check-in?** Currently, check-ins cannot be deleted to preserve the historical record. You can deactivate them when no longer needed. # Assignments Assignments offer a great way to organize, assign, notify and manage assignments. {% embed url="" %} # Assignment Details Assignments have two types of details you can add to them for instructions to the assignee. ## Position Description You can add a description that will be included on all assignments at the Position level. This is great for non-specific, general information such as "Please arrive 10 minutes early" or "Please speak clearly into the microphone". This is added at the Position level in an Assignment Group.

Example of editing a Position description on an Assignment Group.

## Assignment Notes Assignment notes are similar to the Position description, except that it is specific to an Assignment that has already been generated in a Time Period. This is great for dates/assignment specific information, such as "Read Matthew 3:1-3 using the ESV translation" on a scripture reading assignment.

Example of adding a note on a specific Assignment that has been generated.

## Information Location The Position *description* and Assignment *notes* will show up in the mobile app (when a user clicks on an assignment to view details) and in email notifications asking a user to accept or decline a given an assignment.
## Mobile Notifications Position *descriptions* and Assignment *notes* do ***not*** show up in the mobile notifications. Since mobile notifications need to be concise and simple, the detailed information on an assignment is always available in the mobile app when a user clicks on the assignment to view details. # User Availability ### Overview User Availability allows members to declare when they are **unavailable** for assignment scheduling. When the auto-fill system generates assignments for a time period, it automatically skips anyone who has marked themselves as unavailable for the relevant dates. This replaces the need for admins to manually track vacations, recurring conflicts, and other scheduling constraints. ### How It Works There are two types of unavailable periods: #### Date Range A specific start-to-end period where the member is unavailable. Use this for vacations, trips, temporary schedule changes, or any fixed block of time. **Example:** "March 1 through March 15" for a family vacation. When auto-fill runs, the member will be skipped for any assignment that falls within that date range. Assignments outside the range are unaffected. #### Recurring Day A day of the week where the member is permanently unavailable. Use this for ongoing work schedules or recurring commitments that prevent someone from serving on a particular day. **Example:** "Every Sunday" for a member who works every Sunday. When auto-fill runs, the member will be skipped for any assignment on that day of the week, regardless of the time period. ### Effect on Auto-Fill When assignments are generated for a time period, the auto-fill system checks each member's availability before assigning them. The system evaluates three things for each potential assignment: 1. **Recurring day unavailability** — Does the member have a recurring day entry matching the position's day of the week? 2. **Date range unavailability (specific day)** — Does the member have a date range that covers this specific assignment date? 3. **Date range unavailability (whole period)** — For positions that span an entire period (e.g., "every Sunday for 3 months"), does the member have *any* date range that overlaps with the period? If any of these conditions are met, the member is excluded from auto-fill for that assignment. The system will select the next eligible member instead. **Important:** For span-whole-period positions, the check is intentionally strict. Any overlap between a date range and the period will exclude the member. If you need someone every Sunday for 3 months, they must be available for every Sunday in that range. Availability works alongside the existing auto-fill exclusion rules: * **Blocking positions** — Members already assigned to a blocking position on the same day are excluded * **Max assignments per period** — Members who have reached their assignment limit for the period are excluded * **Involvement requirements** — Members must have the required involvement selections and be approved for auto-fill All of these rules are applied together. A member must pass all checks to be eligible for auto-fill. ### Managing Availability #### For Members (Web App) Members can manage their own availability from the **Account > Availability** tab in the member web app. From this screen, members can: * **View** all of their current unavailable periods * **Add** a new unavailable period (date range or recurring day) with an optional reason * **Delete** periods they created themselves Members cannot delete entries that were created by an admin on their behalf. These entries show an "Admin" badge and a note to contact their church to have them removed. #### For Members (Mobile App) Members can also manage their availability from the mobile app under their profile/account settings. The same create and delete rules apply. #### For Admins (User Profile) Admins with the **Manage Assignments** permission can manage availability for any member from the **Availability** tab on the member's profile in the admin area. From this screen, admins can: * **View** all of a member's unavailable periods * **Add** an unavailable period on behalf of a member (the entry will record which admin created it) * **Delete** any admin-created entry (regardless of which admin originally created it) Admins cannot delete entries that a member created for themselves. Those can only be removed by the member. #### For Admins (Assignments Section) Admins can view all availability entries across the entire account from the **Availability** page in the Assignments section. This provides a single view of every member's unavailable periods, useful for planning and scheduling. From this screen, admins can: * **View** all availability entries across all members, sorted by most recent * **Delete** any admin-created entry * Click a member's name to navigate to their profile ### Availability Scope Availability is **account-wide**, not per-group. When a member marks themselves as unavailable on Sundays, they are unavailable for all assignment groups — not just one specific group. This reflects reality: if someone is on vacation, they can't serve in any capacity. ### Reason Field When creating an unavailable period, the reason field is **optional**. It allows members or admins to note why someone is unavailable (e.g., "Family vacation", "Work schedule", "Medical leave"). This is displayed in the list for reference but does not affect auto-fill behavior. ### Who Can Create and Delete | Action | Member (own records) | Admin (for any member) | | -------------------------- | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | Create unavailable period | Yes | Yes (records which admin created it) | | Delete self-created entry | Yes | No | | Delete admin-created entry | No | Yes (any admin with Manage Assignments permission) | ### Feature Gate The Availability tab and functionality is only visible when the **Assignments** feature is enabled for the account. If the feature is disabled, the tab will not appear in either the member app or admin area. # Attendance Tracking The Attendance feature in Lightpost offers a number of options centered around keeping attendance records for both head count and individual users. Some of the highlights include: * **Taking attendance** via: * The mobile app (for users with permissions to do so) * A list view in the Admin -- click to check the boxes * A "type and enter" view in the Admin * **Member Self-Checkin** * Allow an option to show up on specific days for members to "fill out their attendance card" via the mobile and web app. * **Visitor Cards** * Use the provided QR Code and/or URL to send visitors to a form to fill out (like a "Visitor Card" you might have in a church pew). * View and manage the data collected from the visitor card form. * **General Attendance** * Record general "head count" numbers for services -- such as "we had 210 people attending on Sunday morning". * **Reports** * A "Missing Persons" report that can provide a list of users who have "not attended in X weeks". * A general attendance report showing all attendance records of users for the last 16 attendance type dates. * **Attendance Types** * You have the ability to define what specific types of repeating events you'd like to record attendance for, such as: * "Sunday Morning Class" * "Sunday Morning Worship" * "Sunday Evening Worship" * "Wednesday Class" * "Sunday Livestream" * Etc. # Attendance Types Attendance types in Lightpost define what attendance records we record user attendance for. Lightpost provides the ability for each congregation to define their own "attendance types". [Attendance types](https://admin.lightpost.app/attendance/types) are events such as: * Sunday Morning Class * Sunday Morning Worship * Sunday Evening Worship * Tuesday Night Bible Study * Wednesday Night Class ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/lkUH2kPTP2eZXNDokbY6) For each type, there are a number of options available. ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/IxSnypkUQ6iktgEkoqkZ) ### Is AM / is PM This defines whether this attendance type should show up in the morning or evening when taking attendance from the mobile app, or when allowing self check-in. ### Allow Check-in Lightpost provides the ability for members to record their own attendance. For any attendance type that this is enabled for, an option will show up on the specified day and AM/PM time for a member to check their family in as having attended. This is the digital equivalent of filling out an attendance card. 🙂 This option will show up in the mobile and web apps for members who are logged in at the appropriate time. | | | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | # General Attendance Tracking General attendance tracking is a way to record a "head count" for particular attendance types. To record a head count, view the [General Attendance](https://admin.lightpost.app/attendance/general) tab in the Attendance section. ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/R9LDphi6QJ6XqgPAfBPS) Then click the "Create" button at the top right. ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/WI9InSxRT7OvB49kZBJA) # User Attendance Tracking User attendance tracking is a way to take attendance for specific users who have been added to Lightpost. ### Admin Attendance Recording One of the primary methods for record attendance records for specific people is via the [User Attendance](https://admin.lightpost.app/attendance/user) tab in the [Attendance](https://admin.lightpost.app/attendance) section. This will present you with a history of past records (which you can click on the date to edit records), and a "Create" option in the top right corner. You have two different types of methods for enter user attendance. #### 1. Search and Enter Method You can select the date and attendance types you want to create records for, and then type to search for a user, and press enter to add their attendance record. After pressing enter, you can begin searching for the next person. This is a great method to use if you collect physical attendance cards and go through them to record attendance. Note that you can see an "Event Log" on the right to indicate if you mistyped a name that did not apply correctly. ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/Ytxbtr3uRJaMeltIJrLw) #### 2. List View Method You can also select the "List View" option with the button at the top right after you click the "Create" button. This will allow you to select an attendance record date, and will present you with a list of all members, and you can click on the empty spaces to record attendance. ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/f5ty5FnpSHOQpco3oS0L) ### Mobile App Attendance Recording Additionally, you can record attendance directly from the mobile app accessible from the main menu. The ability to access and use the Attendance recording feature in the mobile app is based on a [permission in a role](https://help.lightpost.app/help/how-roles-work). | ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/CP6y4bFpTTyu0dG3POK1) | | | ---------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ### User Self Check-in Additionally, there is the ability to allow members to record their own attendance in the mobile and web apps. See more information on [Attendance Types](https://help.lightpost.app/help/attendance-types) on how to enable this. # Visitor Cards Lightpost provides a URL and QR code that you can place strategically to allow visitors to fill out a record of their attendance with additional information. Visitor Cards are distinct and separate from the [Visitor Tracking](https://help.lightpost.app/help/visitor-tracking-overview) feature, which is an add-on for helping to record interactions with visitors on an on-going basis. Visitor Cards are intended to replace the typical pew cards that are available for people visiting a congregation to fill out and leave behind. You can **access the Visitor Cards URL and QR Code** by visiting the "[Visitor Card - QR Code](https://admin.lightpost.app/attendance/cards/visitor-qr-code)" tab in the Attendance section. {% hint style="danger" %} Below is a **sample only** (this URL and QR code **are invalid**). {% endhint %} ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/L7zKzQncRgeDZMfzIvJF) You can then go to the [Visitor Cards](https://admin.lightpost.apap/attendance/cards) section to view entries, read them and take further action on them. ![](https://cdn.filestackcontent.com/a0DYEyJsQ3GDuBsL41kH) # Online Giving Online Giving in Lightpost is a great way to help facilitate easy contributions for your congregation. Lightpost currently has opted for a self-managed payment processor model for enabling online giving for your congregation. This means that payments go directly to your own Stripe.com payment processor account. ## General Information * Online giving is only available for logged-in members of your congregation (guest giving is on the roadmap). * The Recurring giving feature is optional and not required. It currently allows giving automatically every Sunday. * Giving is available for **credit/debit cards** and **bank accounts (ACH).** You can configure which of these options you want to enable for your congregation. The fee structure is different for each method. ## Available Reports * **Contribution Report** * A full report of who gave what and when. * **Payout (Deposit) Report** * A full report of deposits to your bank account and what contributions make up that deposit. * **End of Year Contribution Letters** * The ability to create and make contribution letters accessible to your congregation. * Note: If only Online Giving is enabled, this report will only consist of electronic contributions done through Lightpost. For a full accounting of checks/cash, the Financial Management feature is needed. ## Finance Categories You have the ability to add and enable/disable categories or "buckets" for members to select contributions to be directed to. ## Stripe Account Notes * You create and own your own Stripe.com payment processor account for your congregation. * You are responsible for completing the entire verification process for your Stripe.com account. * Your payouts will be suspended unless you complete this process. * Your first payout will take 5-7 business days from your first transaction. * Payouts will happen on a rolling business day basis, unless you change this setting in Stripe. * Stripe fees apply for failed payments. * You are responsible for all fees from the payment processor. # Setup Lightpost uses Stripe.com as the payment processor for online giving. To get started, follow the instructions below. ## Setup Process ### 1. Create your Stripe.com account To get started, navigate to the Online Giving section in Lightpost Admin:\ Click the `"Connect with Stripe"` option to create your Stripe account, and connect Lightpost to your Stripe account to enable the ability for Lightpost to act on behalf of your new payment processor account. Make sure to have all your congregation financial and legal information available for the full setup process. After the account creation process, it should bring you back to Lightpost and Lightpost will be connected to your Stripe account. {% hint style="info" %} If you come back to Lightpost and it does not show "Connected" — just click the "Connect with Stripe" button again to make the connection. Sometimes if the sign-up process takes a while to complete, the connection process may not be successful on the first attempt. {% endhint %} ### 2. Online Giving Settings After setup, be sure to enable [giving method types](https://admin.lightpost.app/finance/giving/settings), and select if you'd like to enable automatic recurring giving. # Financial Management The Financial Managment in Lightpost is intended to make the tracking of budgets and reimbursement requests easy, quick and intuitive. ### What is Financial Management? Financial Management in Lightpost is built to track all forms of contributions/income (checks, cash, etc). This works in conjunction with the [Online Giving](/add-on-features/online-giving) feature, if that is enabled. Financial Management **is not** an effort to replace Quickbooks or similar applications. If you need to track payroll and other things, those tools that have decades of experience being built, are the right tool for the job. Financial Manage consist of three primary features: ### Income Tracking Lightpost enables you to add records of all income, and to record these against income buckets that you can create yourself. Examples of "income buckets" are: * "General Contribution" * "Special Contribution" * "Missions Support" * "Building Fund"
Lightpost offers an intuitive and efficient interface for entering this data, including compatibility with certain check readers that use *keyboard emulation,* for quick data entry. It can be as fast as: scan the check, enter the amount, press "Enter", and you're ready for the next entry. ### Expense Tracking & Budgets You can also record expenses across custom **budgets** that you create and set yearly limits for. The goal here is to provide access to elders and deacons to see their budget standing near real-time. In addition to individual data entry, a mass import option will soon be available.
Both income and expenses are organized into **Finance Categories**, which is also where you set the yearly budgets that drive these reports. {% content-ref url="/pages/emDPJ8ikc5xbqzFwDEvv" %} [Finance Categories](/add-on-features/financial-management/finance-categories) {% endcontent-ref %} ### Reimbursement Requests (Coming Soon) A quick, easy option coming to the mobile app will be the ability for church members to take a photo of expenses incurred by them on behalf of the church, and submit a form to request reimbursement for the expense. Many congregations do this with a paper-based method request method that can be time consuming and slow. This feature is expected to be available end of summer 2024. # Finance Categories Finance Categories let you segment your income and expenses into funds and set yearly budgets to track giving and spending against targets. ## What is a Finance Category? A **Finance Category** is a fund or bucket that you record income or expenses against. Categories are how Lightpost segments money so you can report on it, and they are where you set the **budgets** that let elders and deacons see their standing against a yearly target. A typical congregation might create categories such as: * Regular Contribution * Special Contribution * Missions Support * Building Fund * Benevolence Each category is marked as either **income** (money coming in) or an **expense** (money going out), and can optionally be exposed to members for [Online Giving](/add-on-features/online-giving) contributions or reimbursement requests. {% hint style="info" %} Finance Categories are available when either the **Financial Management** or **Online Giving** feature is enabled for your account. You'll need an admin role with finance permissions to manage them. {% endhint %} ## Finding Finance Categories From the admin area, open **Finance** in the sidebar. On the main Finance page, click the **Finance Categories** card (it shows the number of categories and active budgets), or use the **Categories** breadcrumb. This opens the Categories list at **Finance → Categories**. ## Managing categories The **Categories** list is the home for everything in this section. From here you can: * **Search** for a category by name. * **Filter** the list using the **Filters** button. You can filter by minimum budget, maximum budget, budget year, and category type (Income, Expense, Contribution, Reimbursement). * **Export** the current list to Excel with the **Excel** button. * **Reorder** categories by dragging the handle (≡) on the left of each row. The order you set here controls the order categories appear elsewhere in the app, such as when members choose a category while giving. Each row shows the category **Name**, its budget for the current year, and **Type** badges indicating whether it is an Income, Contribution, Expense, and/or Reimbursement category. Click a category's name to open its detail page. ## Creating a category 1. On the **Categories** page, click **Add Category**. 2. Fill in the **Category Information**: * **Category Name** — the name members and admins will see (e.g. "Special Evangelism Fund"). *Required.* * **Accounting Code** — an optional code from your accounting system (e.g. `5000-101`). * **\ Year Budget** — an optional starting budget for the current year, entered in dollars (e.g. `1200.00`). If you enter an amount here, Lightpost automatically creates a budget for the current year so you don't have to add one separately. You can always add or change budgets later. * **Income Category?** — check this if the category represents money **coming in**. * **Contribution Category?** — when income is selected, check this to show the category to members as something they can give toward with Online Giving. * **Expense Category?** — check this if the category represents money **going out**. * **Reimbursement Category?** — when expense is selected, check this to show the category to members as something they can submit reimbursement requests against. * **Description** — optional notes about the category. 3. Click **Save Changes**. {% hint style="info" %} A category is either **income** or an **expense** — the two are mutually exclusive. Choose Income for contributions and other money received, and Expense for money the congregation spends. {% endhint %} ## Editing a category 1. From the **Categories** list, click the category name to open it. 2. In the left sidebar, choose **General Settings**. 3. Update the **Category Name**, **Accounting Code**, **Description**, and — depending on the category type — the **Contribution Category** or **Reimbursement Category** option. 4. Click **Save Changes**. The category detail page also has an **Overview** tab, which summarizes the current-year budget, the number of transactions recorded against the category, and which type flags (Income, Expense, Contribution, Reimbursement) are enabled. ## Setting budgets Budgets are set **per year, per category**, so you can keep a history of each year's target and compare actuals against it. A category can have one budget for each year. To manage budgets: 1. Open a category from the **Categories** list. 2. In the left sidebar, choose **Budgets**. This lists every budget for the category by **Year**, along with its **Description** and **Budget** amount. ### Add a budget 1. On the **Budgets** tab, click **Create a Budget**. 2. In the dialog, set: * **Budget Year** — choose the year this budget applies to. Years that already have a budget are not shown, so you can't create duplicates. * **Yearly Budget** — the budget amount in dollars (e.g. `12000.00`). * **Description** — optional notes. 3. Click **Create Budget**. ### Edit or delete a budget 1. On the **Budgets** tab, click **Edit** on the budget's row. 2. Update the **Yearly Budget** amount or **Description** and click **Save Changes**, or click **Delete** to remove that year's budget. {% hint style="info" %} Budgets are tracked yearly. As income or expenses are recorded against a category, Lightpost compares the totals to that year's budget so leaders can see how much of the budget has been used in near real-time. {% endhint %} # Visitor Tracking {% embed url="" %} # What's New (Update Guide) We've rebuilt Visitor Tracking to be faster & simpler — add visitors without creating a user profile first, capture whole visiting families & manage everything from the mobile app (in upcoming v10) We've given Visitor Tracking a major upgrade focused on one thing: making it effortless to capture and follow up with the people who visit your congregation. Here's what changed, and why it's better. {% hint style="info" %} **The headline:** You no longer need to create a user profile before you can track a visitor — just add a name and go. And for the first time, you can add and manage visitors **right from the mobile app (version 10 and later, coming this summer 2026)**.\ \ This update applies to the **admin and web app versions** currently, and will be fully featured in v10.0 of the mobile app. {% endhint %} ## What changed * **Visitor records now stand on their own.** A visitor is just a name and whatever details you have — no user profile required to get started. * **Enter contact details directly.** Add a phone number, email, and address right on the visitor record. Have more than one? Add as many as you need. * **Capture the whole family.** Note the people in a visiting family (name, relationship, and a comment) without creating a separate record for each person. * **Link to an existing user — optionally.** If the visitor is already in your directory, you can connect them. If not, no problem. * **Add visitors from your phone.** Log a visitor the moment you meet them, right from the mobile app. * **Visitor Cards are simpler.** Turning a Visitor Card into a tracked visitor is now a single step. ## The old way vs. the new way | | Before | Now | | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------- | | **Starting a visitor record** | You first had to create the person as a user (marked as a visitor) | Just type their name — no profile needed | | **Contact info** | Pulled from the user's directory profile | Entered directly on the visitor (or from a linked user) | | **Families** | Each person needed their own user record | Jot down family members right on the visitor record | | **Mobile app** | View only — you couldn't add a visitor | Add, edit, and follow up from your phone (v10+) | | **Visitor Cards** | Converted into user profiles first | One step: **Send to Visitor Tracking** | ## Adding a visitor is now instant Previously, tracking a visitor meant first adding them to your directory as a user and marking them as a visitor — an extra step that had to happen before anyone could follow up. That clutter is gone. Now you simply choose **Add Visitor**, enter a name, and (optionally) add their phone, email, and address. That's it — the record is ready for notes, statuses, and follow-up. ## Tracking a visiting family When a family visits, you rarely have full details for everyone — and you shouldn't have to create a profile for each person just to remember them. You can now list the people in a visiting family right on the visitor record, with a name, relationship, and a short note (for example, *"John — spouse"* or *"Emma — daughter, age 8"*). It's a lightweight way to keep everyone together and organized. Add as much or as little as you know, and fill in the rest later. ## Linking to an existing user (optional) If a visitor turns out to be someone already in your directory — or is added to your directory later — you can **link** the visitor record to their user profile at any time. Linking is always optional and never required, so it never gets in the way of quickly capturing a new visitor. ## New in the mobile app (version 10) The biggest improvement for teams on the go: you can now **create and update visitors directly in the mobile app**. Meet someone after a service, pull out your phone, and add them before you forget the details — no more waiting to get back to a computer. {% hint style="success" %} **Pending submission and App Store approval. Update your app to unlock this.** Adding and editing visitors on mobile requires **mobile app version 10 or later**. Grab the latest version from the **App Store** or **Google Play**. On older versions you'll still see your visitors, but you'll need v10 to add or edit them. {% endhint %} ## Visitor Cards now "Send to Visitor Tracking" [Visitor Cards](/add-on-features/attendance-tracking/visitor-cards) are the digital "pew cards" visitors fill out via your QR code or link. Previously, turning one into a tracked visitor meant first converting it into user profiles. Now there's a single **Send to Visitor Tracking** action. It creates one visitor record straight from the card — the name and contact details come along automatically, and anyone else listed on the card is added as family members. No user profiles are created in the process. ## What happens to my current visitors? Nothing is lost. All of your existing visitor records carry over automatically, along with their names, contact information, notes, and history. Records that were connected to a user stay connected — you simply gain the new flexibility on top. As always, visitors you no longer need to follow up with are **archived** (not deleted), so your history stays intact. ## Why this is better * **Faster** — capture a walk-in in seconds, with just a name. * **Cleaner directory** — visitors no longer clutter your directory. * **Mobile-first** — log visitors in the moment, right after you meet them. * **Flexible** — track a single guest or a whole family, with as much or as little detail as you like. * **Still connected** — link a visitor to a user profile whenever it makes sense. {% hint style="info" %} Access is controlled by the same **Visitor Tracking roles and permissions** you already use, so the right people on your team keep exactly the access they had before. {% endhint %} # Child Check-in Complete with the ability to print parent and child labels, and perform check-ins via QR code scanning on the labels. {% hint style="info" %} **Recently upgraded!** Child Check-in has been rebuilt with reusable child & guardian profiles, pickup authorization, and text-message paging for parents. See [**What's New**](/add-on-features/child-check-in/child-check-in-whats-new) for everything that changed. {% endhint %} With the new Child Check-in feature, you'll be able to: * Setup a computer in your nursery or appropriate area (or use the mobile app - coming soon!) * Check-in members, visitors or register **new visitors**. * Check children in and out in **less than a second** via **QR code scanning**. * Print out child and parent **labels** via a label printer, with information about **allergies** or **special needs**.
### Mobile App Coming Soon! Child Check-in will soon be available in the Lightpost mobile app, and will be the recommended method going forward! ### Printer Recommendation When using the check-in website, printer compatibility is with the DYMO LabelWriter 550 Series Label Printer. When using the mobile app, printer compatibility is with the Brother QL-820NWB. # What's New (Update Guide) We've rebuilt Child Check-in to be faster & safer — check in a child without creating a user profile, capture parents & guardians with pickup permissions, page parents by text, and (in an upcoming mob We've given Child Check-in a major upgrade focused on two things: making check-in effortless for your volunteers, and making pickup safer for the families you serve. Here's what changed, and why it's better. {% hint style="info" %} **The headline:** You no longer need to create a user profile for every child and parent before you can check them in — just enter a name and go. Children and their guardians are remembered for lightning-fast repeat check-in, you can **text a parent** to come get their child, and you can mark exactly **who is allowed to pick a child up**.\ \ This update applies to the **web check-in station** today, and is coming to the **mobile app** in an upcoming version. {% endhint %} ## What changed * **Children stand on their own.** A child is just a name and whatever details you have — no user profile required to check them in. * **Capture parents & guardians right at check-in.** Enter a parent's name and phone as you check a child in, and it's saved for next time. * **Faster repeat check-in.** Returning children and their guardians are remembered, so checking a familiar family in is a single tap. * **We help you avoid duplicates.** As you enter a new child or guardian, we surface matching existing records so you can reuse them instead of creating a second copy. * **Update contact info anytime.** Fix or add a guardian's phone or email from the check-in screen whenever it changes. * **Contact vs. authorized pickup.** Add as many guardians and emergency contacts as you like, and mark exactly who is authorized to take the child home. * **Page a parent by text.** With one tap, send a parent a text message asking them to come to the check-in area — from a dedicated check-in phone number. * **Link to an existing user — optionally.** If the child or parent is already in your directory, you can connect them. If not, no problem. * **Coming to mobile.** Check in and out, scan QR codes, and print labels from the mobile app — and parents can see when their own child is checked in. ## The old way vs. the new way | | Before | Now | | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Checking in a new child** | You first had to create the child (and parents) as users | Just type their name — no profile needed | | **Parent / guardian info** | Pulled from the family's directory profiles | Entered directly at check-in and saved for next time | | **Repeat check-in** | Look the family up in the directory | Tap a recent child, or scan their card | | **Who can pick up the child** | Not tracked | Each guardian is marked **contact only** or **can pick up** | | **Reaching a parent** | Find their number and text them yourself | Tap **Page** to text them from your check-in number | | **Mobile app** | Coming soon | Check in/out, scan QR codes, and print labels (upcoming version) | ## Checking in a child is now instant Previously, checking in a child meant first adding the child — and often their parents — to your directory as users. That was a lot of setup for a busy Sunday morning check-in line. Now you simply choose **New Check-in**, type the child's name, add a guardian or two, and you're done. The record is ready, a label prints, and the family is on their way. Familiar children show up in a **recent** list for one-tap check-in, and you can always scan a QR code to check a child in or out in about a second. ## Parents, guardians & who can pick up Every child can have one or more guardians — parents, grandparents, a babysitter, an emergency contact. For each one you capture a name, phone number, and relationship, and you decide whether they're **contact only** or **authorized to pick up** the child. At pickup, the check-in screen shows exactly who's allowed to take the child home. A volunteer can still check a child out to someone who isn't on the authorized list when needed — but the system records that it happened, so there's always a clear trail. {% hint style="success" %} **Why this matters:** Child safety is the whole point of check-in. Knowing at a glance who is authorized to collect a child — and having a record when an exception is made — gives your volunteers and your families real peace of mind. {% endhint %} ## No more duplicate families When you enter a new child or guardian, we look for people who are already on file and suggest them as you type. Pick the match and you reuse the existing record instead of creating a second one. Over time your check-in list stays clean, and a family's history stays in one place. ## Paging parents by text Sometimes you need a parent — a diaper change, an upset child, an early pickup. Instead of hunting down a phone number, just tap **Page** next to a guardian. They receive a text asking them to come to the check-in area, sent from a **dedicated check-in phone number** so it's clear where it's coming from. Before it sends, we confirm who you're texting so there are no surprises. {% hint style="info" %} Pages are sent as text messages and are billed at your normal per-SMS rate, the same as other texting in Lightpost. {% endhint %} ## Linking to an existing user (optional) If a child or guardian is already in your directory — or is added later — you can **link** their check-in profile to that user at any time. Linking is always optional and never required, so it never slows down a quick check-in. When a parent is linked to their directory account, they'll also be able to see their own child's check-in status from the mobile app. ## Coming to the mobile app The next step is putting all of this in your pocket. In an upcoming version of the Lightpost mobile app you'll be able to: * **Check children in and out**, including by scanning their QR code. * **Print labels** directly from a supported mobile label printer. * Let **parents see when their own child is checked in**, right from their phone. {% hint style="success" %} **Update your app to unlock this.** Mobile check-in requires the latest Lightpost mobile app. Grab it from the **App Store** or **Google Play** when it's released. {% endhint %} ## What happens to my current check-in history? Nothing is lost. Your existing check-in records carry over automatically, and every child who has been checked in gets a profile created for them — along with their parents pulled from your directory, already marked as authorized for pickup. Records that were connected to a user stay connected; you simply gain the new flexibility on top. Your existing printed QR labels keep working too, so you don't need to reprint anything to keep going. ## Why this is better * **Faster** — check a child in with just a name, or a single tap for returning families. * **Safer** — track exactly who may pick up each child, with a record of any exceptions. * **Cleaner** — children and parents no longer clutter your member directory, and duplicates are prevented as you type. * **Connected** — page a parent by text the moment you need them. * **Mobile-first** — check in, scan, and print from your phone (coming soon), and let parents follow along. {% hint style="info" %} Access is controlled by the same **Child Check-in roles and permissions** you already use, so the right people on your team keep exactly the access they had before. {% endhint %} # Website Lightpost offers website hosting for churches of Christ! ❤️ {% hint style="success" %} See a **live example**: [katychurchofchrist.com](https://katychurchofchrist.com) {% endhint %} The purpose of Lightpost website hosting is to enable congregations to have a **cost effective**, **beautiful, highly functional web presence** with **minimal effort**. {% hint style="info" icon="rocket-launch" %} **NEW**: Lightpost now offers [3 templates](/add-on-features/website/templates) to choose from with customizable themes. {% endhint %} ### This service offers: * An **attractive**, functional website. * The ability to use your **own domain name**. * Customization option for a **logo**. * "Out of the box" content such as showing your: * Public **calendars** * Public **sermon** uploads * **Podcasts** * **Leadership** listings * Public **Bible class registration** * Public **shared files** * "Out of the box" options such as: * Public **contact form** * Public **prayer request form** * Dedicated "**Watch Live**" link and page to showcase your live streaming * Dedicated "**Plan a Visit**" link and page * Dedicated "**Service Times**" link and page * Prominent **Social media** links * Default page content such as congregation information, leadership information, about pages and more. * The ability to **create pages** of content **yourself** to offer more information about specific programs or opportunities at your congregation. * **Website statistics** of visitor traffic. (Recording now, available soon) * Linking to **social media** and live streams. * **Domain registration** and management, as an optional add-on feature. ### This service from Lightpost does **NOT** offer: * Custom or elaborate designs or options for changing the design. * Full service content management. * Large file distribution. By limiting design options and customization, we are able to keep costs low and maintenance incredibly low. # Templates Lightpost Websites offer 3 templates to choose from. Two of them offer custom color schemes. The 3 template options are (click to see examples): * Standard Two Column (no theme customization) * Themeable Two Column * Themeable Single Column

Themeable Single Column

Themeable Two Column

Standard Two Column

### Customizable Themes For the two templates that offer the ability to customize colors, you'll see these options that apply:
# On-boarding Process To begin your transfer, setup and on-boarding process, we'll need to consider and execute on the following steps: ### 1. Backup Your Current Site When switching your website to Lightpost hosting, your existing site will no longer be accessible! Reach out to support if you have structured data you are interested in trying to import. We can outline the format that the data needs to be in, and the import costs that will be associated with it. ### 2. Start Loading Content A Lightpost Website is a self-managed website hosting option. Your website will be very empty until you start filling it with content! You can begin this process before your website is live in the [Website Admin](https://admin.lightpost.app/website/settings/carousel) section. ### 3. Choose Domain Management If you would like to have Lightpost manage your domain on your behalf, be sure to follow the steps needed on our [Domain Management information page](/add-on-features/website/domain-management). Domain management is not required! But be sure to read about the [advantages and reduced risk](/add-on-features/website/domain-management#why-domain-management-matters) in using this option. ### 4. Update DNS Records The final step is [configuring your DNS](/add-on-features/website/dns-setup) records to point to Lightpost hosting. This is the final and most important step in the process. # Domain Management Lightpost offers to keep up with your domain name registrar renewals and configuration. Domain management with Lightpost means peace of mind. You maintain ownership, while we handle the renewals, records, and technical details. Your congregation stays online and connected—without the risk of losing your digital identity. ### Managing Your Domain with Lightpost Lightpost can take care of your domain name — ensuring it stays current, is renewed on time, and remains properly configured. We serve as a single, reliable point of contact for all domain-related questions or issues, so you never have to worry about losing access or dealing with confusing registrar systems. ### How to Enable Domain Management To transfer your domain to our registrar for managed services through Lightpost, we just need two things done with your current registrar: 1. **Unlock the domain** at your current registrar (to allow for transfer to another registrar) 1. Most registrars have a "lock" enabled to prevent domains from being automatically transferred. 2. **Gather and send the auth code** to Lightpost support 1. This is sometimes called an "EPP code" with some registrars. 2. You will need to locate this with your current registrar. Some registrars require opening a support ticket to access this code. 3. **Export DNS Records** 1. **Very important!** We need a full listing of all your current DNS records to make sure we don't miss any and disrupt existing services. 2. This export should be available in some form for most providers. 3. Send this export to Lightpost support. 4. If we don't get a proper export or list of DNS records, we can do a "best effort" — but it will risk disrupting services like email, cloud platforms, or other things you might be using your domain for. We'll handle the rest after that! Please note: * Domain name transfers can take 5+ business days. * We must identify any other current hosted services using your domain name to ensure we keep those services running (such as email, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, etc) * Lightpost will be your point of contact for any help you need with domain name configurations. #### Why Domain Management Matters Your domain name (like **churchofchrist.org**) is one of your congregation’s most important digital assets. It connects people to your website, email, livestreams, giving platform, and other online tools. Yet it’s surprisingly easy for domains to lapse or become misconfigured — often without warning. Some of the most common reasons congregations lose control of their domain include: * Lost login credentials – Access to registrar accounts can be misplaced over time. * Ownership confusion – Domains are sometimes registered under an individual’s name instead of the congregation’s. * Leadership changes – When responsibilities shift, important renewal details can be forgotten. * Passing of a caretaker – A domain may become inaccessible if it was registered under the name of someone who has passed away. * Membership or leadership disputes – Lack of clear ownership records can create complications. * Configuration updates – Modern services often require DNS updates or new verification records to function correctly. With Lightpost domain management - your congregation's domain name belongs to the eldership/members of the congregation and are managed on your behalf. #### How Lightpost Domain Management Helps With Lightpost managing your domain, your congregation’s web presence stays secure and stable. Here’s how we help: * Automatic renewals: We ensure your domain never expires due to missed payments or forgotten logins. * Proper ownership: Your domain remains the property of your congregation (eldership/members), not Lightpost or any individual. * Centralized support: If anything ever changes—new website, new email provider, new pastor—we’ll handle DNS or registrar updates for you. * Protection from loss or disputes: We document and preserve ownership details to prevent future confusion. * Single point of contact: Instead of tracking which service holds which record, you simply contact Lightpost. ### FAQ **Who actually owns the domain?** Your congregation does. Lightpost manages it on your behalf, but ownership always remains with your eldership or members. **Can we still access or transfer the domain later?** Yes. You can request full access or transfer the domain at any time. We’ll help with the process to make it smooth and secure. **What if we already have a domain?** We can transfer it under Lightpost management, keeping your existing name and configuration. You’ll stay online during the transition. **What if we ever stop using Lightpost?** You’ll still fully own your domain. We’ll assist you in transferring it wherever you’d like — no lock-in. **Does Lightpost manage DNS settings too?** Yes. We handle DNS updates for your website, email, livestream, or any other service that needs to be connected. **How much does domain management cost?** Domain management pricing can be found on the [pricing page](https://lightpost.app/pricing). We also bill for the yearly renewal of the domain itself. **Do you register new domains too?** Yes! If you don’t already have one, we can help you find and register the best domain name for your congregation. # DNS Setup This is the DNS configuration for website hosting. In order for your Lightpost website hosting to work properly, you'll need to create a \`CNAME\` DNS record with your domain registrar to point to the Lightpost website hosting server. This record should look like:
TypeNameContentTTL
CNAME@host.lightpost.website60m
CNAMEwwwhost.lightpost.website60m
{% hint style="info" %} Some registrars use your **domain name instead of the @ symbol** in the "Name" field. In this case, just enter your domain name instead of the @ symbol. {% endhint %} This will mean that your congregation's website domain name (such as [katychurchofchrist.com](https://katychurchofchrist.com)) will work correctly. Lightpost will also automatically forward the root domain of your domain to the `www` variant. For example: > `example.com` will **forward** to `www.example.com` ### CNAME Flattening Support Some registrars do not support a root level CNAME record (also known as CNAME flattening, or ALIAS/ANAME records in some DNS systems). If this is the case, you'll need to do one of two options: #### Forwarding (Recommended) Some registrars support domain forwarding, which is recommended if adding a CNAME at the rool level is not available. Depending on your registrar, you'll just want to setup your root level address to forward to `www`. For example: > `example.com` should forward to `www.example.com` #### A Record (Not Recommended) You can also use a standard `A Record` for the root level record to support Lightpost Website hosting. The record will look like this:
TypeNameContentTTL
A@45.33.116.23860m
{% hint style="warning" %} This IP address is **subject to change** in the future and will need to be updated to keep your website working correctly. {% endhint %} # Data Import We can import your church directory information from source files you may have for an extra fee. Below is an outline of what this service offering is and what is needed. ### Expectations We can import your core directory information — provided the data is in a logical format. #### ✅ What an import includes: * A one-time transfer of your core directory data into Lightpost. * Data imported from a CSV or Excel file with clear, logical, consistent formatting. * Successful import depends on required fields being present. * Data quality will match the quality of the data provided. #### 🚫 What an import does not include: * Collecting and combining data from multiple files or sources. * Importing data in stages or piecemeal over time. * Importing additional information outside of typical directory data — such as involvement areas, attendance records, special groups, calendars, or similar data.\* We strive to get you up and running as quickly as possible! \*If you would like to import additional types of data beyond your core directory, please reach out, and we can evaluate this for you as a separate, one-time service. ### Included Users While many directory services offer a way to store member information, you may also have information on former members, visitors, or other guests. We can also import their information into your Lightpost account, as long as they are clearly marked as a non-member. Only members show up in your directory, have access to Lightpost and count towards your subscription. Other user information that is imported will be admin-only accessible as reference data. ### Exporting Your Current Data When exporting your data from other church management system, please export with as much information as possible. The more information that is available, then the more data that will be available in Lightpost. Critically important, certain specific fields are required for a quality data import. #### Required Fields * `Family ID` - an identifier to link family units together. * `Family Role` - a consistent indicator showing the role of each individual within the family (e.g., head of household, spouse, child). * `Gender` #### **Preferred Optional Fields** * `Preferred First Name` * `Email` * `Baptism Status` * `Date of Baptism` * `Allergies` Once your data file is ready, please request a secure file upload link from our team to safely send your member data to Lightpost. A sample export file is available upon request to guide you in preparing your data correctly. ### Importing Photos Directory photos can only be imported if provided as **URLs to publicly accessible images**. We are unable to import photos embedded in Excel files or provided separately in folders or zip files, as these formats are not compatible with our import process. ### Can I import data myself? Our platform does not offer a self-service option to import data via CSV or similar files. Over the years, we have assisted many customers with data imports, and we have consistently found that no two data sets are alike. Because of this, there is no standardized, reliable way to automate imports without risking significant data issues. Past attempts at self-service importing have led to frustrating cleanup processes for customers, often requiring more time and effort than a carefully managed import. To ensure your data is accurate and your account remains in good shape, we offer a custom import service for a one-time fee. This allows us to review your data, prepare it properly, and create a custom import process to ensure everything is migrated correctly. ### Do I have to do a data import? No! Lightpost has clear, concise forms for creating users, as well as simpler forms for adding family members. There's a great flow you can get into by adding head of households first, and then quickly adding individual family members. While doing manual data entry is more involved on your end, we have worked to make it as effortless as possible. # Email Delivery ### GMail 1. Log into your account and open up the email in your inbox. 2. Hover over the sender's name and a window will pop up. 3. Select "Add to Contacts" to save the sender to your Contacts list.\ \ You can also safe-list in GMail before opening the email. To do so, hover over the sender's name next to the subject line in the inbox. Click "More" in the pop-up box. Select "Add to senders" to save to your Contacts list. ### Yahoo! Log into your account, hover over the "Settings" icon and click "Settings".\ \ In the "Settings" tab, select "Filters" from the left menu and click the button to "Add" a filter.\ \ Type a name for your filter in the "Filter name" field. Select "contains" in the "sender" drop-down menu. Type the sender's email address in the "sender" text field. In the "Move to Folder" drop-down menu, select "Inbox". Click the "Save" button in the top bar to save the filter. ### Hotmail In the upper right hand corner of your account, click on the "Settings" icon. From here, click on the option for "Options".\ \ While in this section, click on the option for "Safe and blocked senders".\ \ Click on "Safe senders".\ \ Enter in the sender's email address and click the button to "Add to list". ### AOL In the upper right hand corner of your account, click on "Options". From there, click "Mail Settings".\ \ On the "Settings" page, click "Spam Settings". From there, choose "Allow mail only from addresses I specify" on the drop-down menu. Enter in the sender's email address, click the plus button, and click save to save your changes. ### Outlook (2003 and higher) Right-click on the message in your inbox. Select "Junk E-mail" from the menu. Then, click "Add Sender to Safe Senders List". ### Apple Mail Select "Mail" and "Preferences" from the top menu.\ \ In the "Preferences" window, click the "Rules" icon. Then, click the "Add Rule" button.\ \ In the "Rules" window, type a name for your rule in the "Description" field. Use the following settings: “If any of the following conditions are met: From Contains.” Type the sender’s email address in the text field beside “Contains.” Select “Move Message” and “Inbox” from the drop-down menus. Click “Ok” to save the rule. ### Verizon 1. Open your email. 2. Click "Options". 3. Click "Block Senders". 4. Locate the "Safe List". 5. Enter your contact's domain. 6. Click "OK". ### Comcast 1. Click "Address Book". 2. Click "New" and click "New Contact". 3. Add the sender's email address. 4. Click "Save". ### Cox.net 1. Open your email. 2. Click "Preferences". 3. Under "General Email Preferences", click "Blocked Senders". 4. Type in the sender's email address in the "Exceptions List". 5. Click "Add". 6. Click "Save". ### AT\&T WebMail 1. Select "Options". 2. Select "Filters". 3. Click "Add Filter". 4. In the top row labeled "From Header", select "contains" from the drop down menu. 5. Enter the sender's email address. 6. Move down to the bottom where there is the option "Move the message to". 7. Select "Inbox" from the drop down menu. 8. Select the "Add Filter" button again. ### Thunderbird 1. Check if your sender's email is in your "Junk" folder. Then, right click on the email and select "Mark As Not Junk". 2. Click "Address Book". 3. Make sure that the "Personal Address Book" is highlighted. 4. Click "New Card", the "New Card" window will display. 5. Under the "Contact" tab, copy your sender's "From" address and paste it into the email dialog box. 6. Click "Ok". ### Norton AntiSpam 1. Start Norton AntiSpam. 2. Select "Status & Settings" tab. 3. Select "Configure" button. 4. Select "Allowed List" tab. 5. Select "Add". 6. Enter the sender's email address. 7. Select "Ok". ### McAfee 1. Click the "Allow/Deny" menu option in the Control Console. 2. Enter the sender's email address in the "Add Entrys" field in the "Allow List". 3. Click "Save". ### Mail.com 1. Open the email. 2. Click the "Plus" symbol on the sender's email address. 3. Add the first/last name of the sender. 4. Click "Ok". # Emails marked as spam A user may accidentally mark an email coming from Lightpost as spam. Here are the steps to resolve this. Occasionally, a user may **accidentally mark an email** coming from Lightpost **as spam**. When this happens, our **email provider immediately blocks** all future emails from going to this user, to ensure that such reports are honored and treated seriously. In the event that this was a mistake, we must **manually submit a request** to **unblock** the user from the suppression list with our email provider. To do this, please **email the user** and **have them reply** with something to this effect: > Hello! \ > \ > I would like to receive emails again from Lightpost. \ > Please remove me from any suppression list so I can receive future emails. Then **forward this email to Lightpost support**, so we can manually request reinstatement. Once we receive this email, the process usually takes a short amount of time to reinstate the user. # More Info Requested Here are some common questions and responses for congregations seeking more information about Lightpost topics. ### Can we talk to another congregation already using Lightpost? No. While in the past there have been members who were willing to make themselves available to speak to how much they love Lightpost, this has put an undue burden on brothers and sisters who have their own responsibilities and priorities in life. Selling Lightpost is not one of those, and nor should it be. Rest assured, there are many congregations of the Lord's church happily using Lightpost. Feel free to ask around in your Facebook or brotherhood networks to find others using it. You can find many positive references there. Lightpost does not require any commitments or long term investment. If it turns out to not be useful, you can immediately stop using it. ### What about security? Can you tell me how you program everything? We have a [whole page dedicated](http://lightpost.app/security) to describing how we take security seriously and have industry leading experience with creating, running, maintaining and securing technology services. Included on that page are some references to the underlying technology used in the creation and operation of Lightpost. These explanations should be sufficient for accepting the use of a service such as Lightpost, and in many cases goes above and beyond details that other, similar services offer. We would **please** ask that you scrutinize Lightpost with the same level of scrutiny you would any other technology service you might sign up for and use. ### How do I know I can trust you? Lightpost is a business built by a member of the church for the Lord's church. While this may offer comfort to some, it does not necessarily guarantee anything more than any other business. The fact that a member of the church created Lightpost can be a pro and a con, depending on the end user, in that while it's great to support a member of the church offering services for the church, it often invites more scrutiny and requirements on behalf of a congregation looking to use a service. We offer a terms of service and privacy policy, just like other businesses. You are able to cancel your account at any time, without fees or penalties, just like many other businesses. Unlike other businesses though, Lightpost is only offered to the churches of Christ, as outlined in the terms of service, and is designed with workflows that are common to the way the Lord's church works.